The call up will come as no surprise for Arsenal fans having seen the striker improve enormously over the last year, scoring crucial goals in the Gunners’ successful Youth Cup campaign before taking part against Rangers in the Emirates Cup in pre-season, illustrating just how far he has progressed in Wenger’s estimation. He’s fresh from scoring an impressive brace against Birmingham City reserves on Tuesday and will look to continue his impressive early form.

He’s not the only name of interest in the latest squad named by Blake though, with Spurs duo Andros Townsend and John Bostock, Villa’s Nathan Delfouneso and Newcastle’s Nile Ranger being included in a very promising attack for the England team. Townsend caught my attention in Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat in the Youth Cup quarter final last season where he shined despite his side being overrun by the eventual winners, while team mate Bostock is a far better known player but one who has lost his way since moving from Crystal Palace in what looks to be an ill advised and controversial move. The talent is still obvious and he has still got plenty of time to find his feet once more though.

Villa’s Nathan Delfouneso recieved the Golden Boot award in the recent U19 European Championships and is always a goalscoring threat and Newcastle’s Nile Range has proven himself to be another player capable of finding the net with ease.

Full Squad:

• Nathan Baker (Aston Villa)

• John Bostock (Tottenham Hotspur)
• Reece Brown (Manchester Utd)
• Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
• Jordan Clarke (Coventry City)
• Nathaniel Clyne (Crystal Palace)
• Nathan Delfouneso (Aston Villa)
• Ryan Donaldson (Newcastle Utd)
• Wesley Foderingham (Fulham)
• Scott Malone (Wolves)
• Matthew James (Manchester Utd)
• Dean Parrett (Tottenham Hotspur)
• Nile Ranger (Newcastle Utd)
• Declan Rudd (Norwich City)
• Cameron Stewart (Manchester Utd)
• Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur)
• James Wallace (Everton)
• Sanchez Watt (Arsenal)
  

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.