Arsenal loanee Charlie Patino scored a consolation goal during Blackpool's 2-1 defeat to Southampton in Saturday afternoon's fourth-round FA Cup clash.
It was the fifth direct goal contribution that Patino has managed this term, enjoying a breakout season in the heart of the Championship side's midfield. The 19-year-old is highly rated at the Emirates Stadium, with the Gunners recently activating the two-year contract extension option in the player’s deal whilst they plan on negotiating on a long-term agreement soon.
Fellow-Arsenal starlet Emile Smith Rowe had a similarly successful loan spell in the English second tier before establishing himself as a key member of Mikel Arteta's first team in recent years and Patino will hope that his impressive development at Bloomfield Road could put him in Arteta's immediate plans ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. Granit Xhaka has more-or-less locked down his spot as an advanced no.8 on the left side of Arsenal's midfield three, netting three goals and providing a further five assists in the Premier League this term.
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Patino will be targeting the Swiss international's spot in the Gunners' starting XI next year and considering the youngster has a similar blend of elite technical prowess and intelligent movement, whilst also being left-footed, he could make the perfect long-term successor for Xhaka. The talented teenager made his first-team debut for the north Londoners during last season's 5-1 victory over Sunderland in the League Cup, scoring his side's fifth in injury time.
“It was an amazing night", Patino told Goal when speaking about the game against The Black Cats. "When I came on, it was an amazing feeling hearing everyone chanting my name.
"It gave me so much confidence. I felt free, I felt like I could play like I normally play. Then when I got my first pass off, it brought even more confidence. Then to score after (Nicolas) Pepe crossed it in, it was just amazing, honestly.”
He continued: “I remember afterwards I was just hugging the staff and all the players were coming over to me and saying, 'congratulations, you deserve this, enjoy your night'.
“My family and my agent were watching in the Adidas box, and just walking in and seeing their faces afterwards was great because they’d all spent so much time travelling up and down the country watching me play over the years when I was at St Albans, Luton and Hale End. I said to my family that night, 'this is just the start, I want more'.”
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