Sanchez Watt has progressed rapidly in the last year, from a decent young player to a talented starlet with a big future. In particular the Youth Cup wining run last season saw the leggy forward become one of the stars of the latest generation of Academy graduates with his fantastic work rate and classy finishing becoming vital to his side. Scoring a few goals along the way, he has entered this season with a real chance of getting the nod for the Carling Cup side despite massive competition in the forward ranks and his inclusion ahead of Nacer Barazite and Gilles Sunu for the Emirates Cup could be a hint at a possible selection.

“You have to work hard. Arsène Wenger watches you off the ball too, so you have to be switched on; tactically and mentally.

I hope to be picked but I haven’t got too much word about it. I’m just going to keep on trying and if I get the shout, I’ll try my best.”

With so many youngsters hoping for their opportunity, along with more established squad members looking for games, there will be inevitable disappointment in the Arsenal camp once the team for the tie at the Emirates Stadium has been selected.

“There’s going to be a lot of sad faces. It’s about whoever is hot at that precise moment, and whoever gets that chance to do well.”

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Another player definitely in the mix for a Carling Cup spot is the Spanish midfielder Fran Merida, and today he has given the reasons behind his decision to stay at the club this year rather than try and gain some experience by taking up one of the loan options available to him.

“I am 100 per cent staying. It is true that I had an option to go out on loan but me, the boss, my agent and my family decided that the best thing for me is to stay here.  The boss told me he believes in me and the only thing I can do now is prove it on the pitch and repay that faith.

“My target is to help as much as possible to get trophies. I truly believe we have a fantastic chance. We have started well, we must keep that going because we haven’t done anything yet.”

With the Spaniard staying put and so many players ahead of him for a midfield place for Wenger’s side, the Barcelona-born player will be getting plenty of minutes for the reserve side. He starred in the 4-0 demolition of Birmingham last week and Merida says that he welcomes the chance to turn out for Banfield’s team.

“Everytime you get the chance to play in the Reserves it is good because you keep your match fitness. I know Neil has confidence in me and if he tells me to play for the Reserves I am more than happy.

“Personally it’s just about training hard, taking any chances I am given and doing my best for the team. Hopefully the season can be great for Arsenal.”

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)
  

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.