The talented midfielder enjoyed getting his name in the starting line up in the draw against the Swans and hopes it’s a sign of things to come as he looks to get valuable experience to take back to the Gunners.

“It was good to get to know how the team play and I fully enjoyed it” said Lansbury.

“It has made me more determined to get in the team every week now. I’ve come here to learn and to play football, which is what I’ll do.”

Last season he rejected the chance to join a Premier League or Championship club on loan in favour of going to League 1 with Scunthorpe, and he feels that experience has set him up to try a higher level this term with Watford.

“I think playing at Watford will be another great learning curve in my career and playing in the championship is a great experience for any young player.

“I was lucky enough to have a great loan period with Scunthorpe in League One last season, and they were promoted to the Championship while I was there.

“Being at Watford is definitely a step-up and a move forwards for me in my career so far so I hope I do well here. I wanted to come here, play well and get the team into a good league position by the time I leave – so they are my aims now.”

Lansbury had a busy summer this summer before joining Watford and was named one of Uefa’s “Ones to Watch” following his performances in the Uefa Under 19 Championships and he feels turning out for his country is a vital step in his career progression.

“International experience is a great step in a player’s career. It’s all about playing and training with good players from other clubs in various leagues and having the chance to interact with different people. It means you experience different types of play, skills and tactics that you don’t necessarily get at your domestic clubs.”

Arsenal may not have Lansbury available to play for them at the moment, but they don’t have to go far to see the youngster train with Watford’s training ground just the other side of the fence from the state of the art London Colney, something that makes it very easy for the Arsenal coaches to check on the 18 year old regularly.

“I didn’t have far to come – Watford’s training ground is just over the fence from Arsenal’s! With it being so close, it means the coaches at Arsenal can easily hop over and check up on how I’m doing here which is really good.”

His side drew 1-1 in the first game of the season and followed that up by beating Crewe in the Carling Cup this week but Holloway is still looking for additions to the squad.

“I think I’ve got a very good side here but I need to add to it and make it a very good squad. I need people from another level to take us forward and help us try to climb up the division.”

One of these players from another level could well be the Arsenal youngster in question after he gained permission from Academy Director Liam Brady to try and convince him, and his agent, to choose Blackpool over his other options.

“I’ve got a massive yes from Arsenal – from Arsene Wenger and from Liam Brady – about a player. I’ve got to convince the agent that the player should come to me and not choose other teams. I can’t tell you the name of the player, but if I’ve got to go to London to meet him I’ll do it. I’ve got to provide him with a chance in the first team and make sure that lad is being looked after and is developing.

“That’s what I can do, I’ve done it before and people will realise that. Whether Blackpool have done that before I don’t know. But people have loaned me their young players and I’ve helped them – players like Scott Sinclair and Lee Martin. I have a proven track record and hopefully this agent will allow me to do it again.”

So who do we think it is then? Your guess is probably as good as mine but below I have looked at several of the possible names in the frame:

Randall has been rejected by fellow Championship side Derby County earlier this pre-season, while Nacer Barazite is almost certain for another loan deal following a loan spell last season. Meanwhile Sanchez Watt seemed to earn a lot of trust from Wenger during pre-season and was rewarded with an appearance in the Emirates Cup, but with so many forwards ahead of him a loan spell could be on the cards. Frenchman Francis Coquelin is another possibility following a highly successful first year at the club but his midfield partner Frimpong is less likely to be allowed to develop away from the club.

Henri Lansbury was set for a move to Scunthorpe but any loan deal has been put on hold after picking up an injury so it’s unlikely to be him, and although there have been rumours surrounding Jay Emmanuel-Thomas with a move to Sheffield Wednesday Holloway could swoop for the versatile teenager.

Jay Simpson is an outside bet with so many other clubs also interested after a decent loan spell in the Premier League last season.

Arsenal have two representatives in the shortlist with Spain’s Fran Merida and England’s Henri Lansbury both making the list.  With three goals and more than four assists on England’s path to the final Lansbury showed that the loan spell at Scunthorpe has helped him regain the confidence that injuries appeared to have taken away from him and he will hope to gain further experience this season with several clubs interested in taking him on loan. Fran Merida’s tournament was not quite as successful as despite an excellent qualification campaign from the Spaniard he struggled to really shine as Spain were dumped out in the group stage. Still, Fran’s excellent showing in the Emirates Cup upon his return suggests his talent could see him get a place in the Arsenal squad in seasons to come.

Aston Villa’s Nathan Delfouneso was the other English talent who made the list while Manchester United were represented in the shortlist by Adem Ljajic of Serbia.

The full list can be seen below:

• Sébastien Corchia (France)
• Nathan Delfouneso (England)
• Denys Garmash (Ukraine)
• Henri Lansbury (England)
• Adem Ljajić (Serbia)
• Fran Mérida (Spain)
• Kyrylo Petrov (Ukraine)
• Matej Radan (Slovenia)
• Tunay Torun (Turkey)
• Sébastien Wüthrich (Switzerland)

For much of the game France were the better team, but indiscipline proved to be their downfall as they finished the game with just 8 men. They did take the lead however, with the ever dangerous Yacine Brahimi crossing for Gueye to finish in the eighth minute, following an impressive start by Les Bleus.

England gradually got a foothold in the game after that though, with Briggs missing a volleyed chance before the breakthrough came. Arsenal starlet Henri Lansbury was once again the inspiration as a free kick rebounded to him and the central midfielder made no mistake from just outside the box, drilling home through the crowded area to equalise, taking his tally to three goals in three games at the tournament.

France could and perhaps should have retaken the lead just after half time when Gueye had a chance to double his tally but sliced his shot and from that point onwards it was England who had the best chances and with a save from Drinkwater’s shot and denying Lansbury on two more occasions France had Remi Pillot to thank for not conceding as the game moved towards extra time. Even with Corchia being dismissed after a tackle on Nile Ranger the French managed to hold on to force the extra half an hour.

They lasted just two minutes into the extra period though as England’s superior numbers told, Aston Villa striker Nathan Delfouneso finishing after yet another Pillot save and the highly rated 18 year old then struck again to put the result beyond doubt. There was still time though for France to lose another two players as El Kaoutari recieved his second yellow card before Boudebouz followed him after being given his marching orders for dissent.

England can now look forward to the Final against the hosts Ukraine on Sunday in Donetsk as they look to become European Champions of their age group.