Arsenal are preparing to sell Charlie Patino in the summer transfer window after accepting his desire to play regular first-team football.
Patino joined the Gunners from Luton Town in 2015 and signed a professional contract in 2020. He scored on his first-team debut as an 18-year-old in a 5-1 win over Sunderland in December 2021 to spark huge excitement about his future.
But he has made just two appearances for Arsenal, and after spending the season on loan with Blackpool, he has made the decision to push for a transfer. Some Arsenal fans may be surprised by the club’s stance, but Mikel Arteta has always been clear on his policy in promoting young players into the first team.
Patino regularly trained with Arteta’s squad during the 2021/22 season, yet he only got onto the pitch twice. Back in December 2021, Arteta was quick to bring the supporters down to earth with his comments on Patino.
“[Too much hype around him] is what we have to avoid,” he said. “He still has a lot of competition in front of him. He is really young. And he needs to go step by step. Today he was lucky, he got the opportunity and he took it really well.”
Patino has proven he can compete in first-team football, contributing three goals and four assists in 36 appearances for Blackpool. The choice of loan destination showed Patino’s desire to prove himself – and he obviously feels he’s done that, despite the Tangerines being relegated.
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Nevertheless, he knows he would face an uphill battle for a place in Arsenal’s team next season, with Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka, Martin Odegaard, Jorginho, Fabio Vieira and Mohamed Elneny all in front of him in the pecking order in central midfield.
There is reportedly plenty of interest in Patino, meaning Arsenal should receive a decent transfer fee for the 19-year-old. Back in 2015 they saw off interest from the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham to sign a player who had wowed the club’s scouts.
Brian Stapleton was the Gunners scout who first spotted Patino while he was playing for Luton. He immediately saw something special. “Of all the years I’ve been scouting, he’s the best kid I’ve ever seen,” Stapleton told Goal in 2021. “His first touch was unbelievable, his vision, his awareness of space. He was way above his years, he was on another planet to anyone else on the pitch.”
Sean O’Connor, one of the key figures at Arsenal’s academy, had an even bigger claim. “Sean O’Connor discovered Jack Wilshere and he said to me that Charlie is the best player who has ever walked through the doors at Hale End,” Stapleton added. “The kid has got so much potential, but he’s not there yet.”
