Henri Lansbury's last appearance for Arsenal was when he came on as a sub at Old Trafford

Henri Lansbury’s last appearance for Arsenal was as an 84th-minute substitute in the 8-2 mauling at Old Trafford in August, before joining West Ham on loan. He admits Arsenal’s worst result in 115 years will stay with him for the rest of his career and is desperate for United youngsters Danny Welbeck, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling to get a dose of their own medicine. Midfielder Lansbury went to the European Under-21 Championship for England with Welbeck, Jones, Smalling and Tom Cleverley during the summer. But his friendship with the United players only meant the stick he received after the thrashing was even worse. “They didn’t give me any time to get over it, they got straight into me on the pitch as we were walking off,” said Lansbury, 21. “Two of them, Jonesy and Smalling, came up to me and said, ‘Oh, you lot are good aren’t you?’

Even though I’m on loan at West Ham, I’ll be at the Emirates tomorrow Henri Lansbury

“Then on the bus, Welbeck sent me a text. I can’t repeat it, but I didn’t reply. I just deleted the conversation. I went quiet for a couple of weeks. “In fairness, I was at them the whole trip with the Under-21s, so I knew it was going to come back and bite me somewhere. But I obviously didn’t think like that. I had gone on with six minutes to go when we were 7-2 down. It was bizarre. Watching it from the bench, seeing the goals flying in, it was just, ‘This isn’t happening, this isn’t real’. “When you’re 7-2 down you’ve just got to dig in and try to stop it getting even worse. “I’ve been an Arsenal fan since I was young, so I would always help the club in any situation. And going on against United at Old Trafford has always been a dream, but it turned out to be my worst day in football. Afterwards, I think all the boys thought, ‘Did that really happen to us?’ Everyone was in shock and just wanted to get on the bus. On the way home we were in silence the whole way.

“The 8-2 will always stay with me and I’m sure it will stay with all the lads, but you can use it as a positive to make sure it never happens again. It can’t happen again to an Arsenal team. “Even though I’m on loan at West Ham, I’ll be at the Emirates tomorrow. “Theo Walcott has got a box, so I’ll have a word with him and see if he can smuggle me in. I really want the lads to get some revenge and I will be straight on the phone to text Welbeck if they do.” While Welbeck, Jones, Smalling and Cleverley returned from the Under-21 Championship to be given a chance in the United senior side, highly rated Lansbury decided to go on loan for a fourth successive season to get first-team football.

He could have stayed at Arsenal but, unlike some of the squad players manager Arsene Wenger has at the club, Lansbury does not want to make a career out of sitting on the bench and making a few Carling Cup appearances. His desire to play football is highlighted by the fact he once agreed to play as an emergency keeper for the Under-21s and is West Ham’s nominated No 2 to Robert Green when boss Sam Allardyce elects not to put a specialist stopper on the bench. “There are a lot of players at Arsenal and I’m not one to wait around, sit in the reserves or play the odd Carling Cup game here and there,” said Lansbury, who is on Stuart Pearce’s list of Olympic Team GB candidates.

“It means something when you’re playing. You’re earning your living. “Some people want to go and play and some people want to just wait around. I want to play. “I played in goal for the Under-21s when Jason Steele was sent off and the manager here at West Ham asked if I will go in if Greeny ever gets injured or sent off. That’s fine by me. I would start in goal if he wanted me to. “It’s good to see the United boys and the likes of Kyle Walker and Daniel Sturridge all being given a chance with their clubs, and stepping up from the Under-21s to the full England squad. “I don’t think I’m far off any of those lads, but they have got their chance in the Premier League and they have taken it.