Arsenal wonderkid Charlie Patino is already turning heads at Blackpool and it's likely to be exactly what Mikel Arteta has ordered.
The midfielder only joined the Championship outfit on a season-long loan deal last week but was immediately thrust into the action over the weekend, making his debut as a second half substitute in a 2-0 defeat away at Stoke City where he came up against fellow loanee Harry Clarke.
It was the defender who won the battle of the Arsenal loan army as he broke the deadlock in the first-half, but Patino still emerged from proceedings with his reputation intact as he managed to catch the eye of Blackpool head coach Michael Appleton and the travelling supporters.
READ MORE: Nuno Tavares and Flo Balogun score, Charlie Patino gets new chant - Arsenal loan round up
"He takes yards off people sometimes with his ability to get away from people. I thought he was great," Appleton said, as per Lancashire Live. "I thought he showed a calmness. He showed an old head on very, very young shoulders and I enjoyed watching him. I think the Blackpool fans over the coming season are going to enjoy watching him."
In addition, Blackpool fans appear to have quickly taken to the 18-year-old by developing a chant for him which has gone viral on social media
Now, Patino isn't the only Arsenal player spending the season out on loan, nor is he the first academy starlet that has been sent out to get regular first-team experience to aid his development and what has been said about him after his Blackpool debut is likely to please Arteta.
Interestingly, when the decision was made to loan out Emile Smith Rowe to Huddersfield Town during the second half of the 2019/2020 campaign, the Arsenal manager revealed a rather unique approach he would be taking with the attacking midfielder.
"When we sent him on loan, I said I'm only going to ask you… I'm not going to watch your games," Arteta explained in the All or Nothing: Arsenal Amazon documentary. "I only want to hear what people say, about you when you are there, and how they are going to describe you, not as a player, as a person.
"Because as a player I don't have any doubts that you can play for us. But can you cope with being in that dressing room? Can you cope with the pressure outside? I don’t know, so you better go there and impose yourself, and he really did."
Of course, Patino's situation is a lot different from Smith Rowe's, although if this is still the approach Arteta is taking with players that are out on loan, then comments from Appleton in addition to the chant can certainly be regarded as an encouraging sign for what's to come as the season progresses.
READ NEXT:
- Youri Tielemans passes Arsenal transfer audition to complete first steps for £25m summer deal
Edu pushed into Youri Tielemans transfer as PSG set to complete Arsenal's dream £37m double deal
Ian Wright praises Edu and Mikel Arteta for key William Saliba decision after Arsenal debut
Premier League squad registration rules 'confirms' summer transfer for Arsenal's FA Cup winner
Arsenal interest in Yeremy Pino justified after besting Moussa Diaby in Mikel Arteta’s demands
