Journalist Charles Watts has claimed that Arsenal youngster Charlie Patino has ‘impressed’ Mikel Arteta and senior players this season.
The youngster seems to be the next big thing set to come out of the club’s esteemed academy. He already caught headlines earlier this month after scoring a stunning solo goal against Manchester United in a Premier League 2 match.
According to Watts, that excitement is reflected within the club as well. While talking on his YouTube channel, the journalist explained that Patino has impressed everyone with the way he has ‘handled himself’ when involved with the first team.
He said: “It’s been a sensational start, really, to the season for Patino. Spent a lot of time training with the first team, has really, really impressed Mikel Arteta and especially other senior players, from what I’m told as well, with his performances in training.
“Not just in training as well, in that behind-closed-doors game against Brentford during the last international break when he came on for [Mohamed] Elneny, I think about half an hour in, when Elneny got injured.
“Patino played for an hour and from what I understand, he left an awful lot of senior players in that Arsenal team very, very impressed with the way he handled himself and his performance.”
TIF Thoughts on Charlie Patino and Arsenal…
Patino has managed three goals and four assists across a combined 33 games for Arsenal’s U18 and U23 teams – showing that he has plenty of experience at that level.
Will Patino make his Arsenal debut this season?
Yes
No
The youngster was also said to have put on a ‘sparkling display’ against the Swindon Town senior team as Arsenal’s U21s were beaten 2-1 in the EFL Trophy earlier this season. This suggests he could be ready to handle the physicality needed when making the step beyond youth football.
It feels like this could be the season where Patino truly gets a shot at first-team football for the club. With academy graduates Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe impressing so many over the past season or so, he certainly has a clear path to follow.
In other news: ‘Little bit risky’ – Watts claims Arteta has ‘really big choice’ to make at Arsenal