Arsenal are having a great season under Mikel Arteta. The Gunners have come out of the blocks firing. Whispers have already begun- Are Arsenal title contenders? Arteta has finally managed to mould the squad to his liking. Gabriel Jesus has been signed to provide goals, while Fabio Vieira was brought from Porto to bolster the creative department further. And the team is not only preparing for a lunge at the Premier League title. They are already looking for future stars. Charlie Patino is the number one player on that list.
The English midfielder has been described as a perfect midfielder and is also considered a future star. Patino has already become a favourite for Arsenal fans and has shown encouraging performances. Arteta has sent him to Championship side Blackpool where he can get regular playing time.
Arsenal’s scouting head, Sean O’Connor, stated that Patino is the best youngster to ever play at the club’s academy. The pressure on the player is impressive at such a young age, but he has the skills to succeed at the top level.
So, who is Charlie Patino, and how good is he?
How good is Charlie Patino?
Charlie Michael Patino was born in Watford, England, and started his career at St Alban’s City F.C. Then, at age seven, he would shift to Luton Town, where he would spend the next four years. In 2015, Patino joined the Gunners youth academy where he would rapidly rise through the club’s rank.
At age 14, he would play for the Arsenal under-18s in the 2017-18 season. The following season he would establish himself in the England under-16s. Patino would play eight matches and score two goals for the national team. Over the next two seasons, he would represent Arsenal in the EPL under-18 and F.A. Youth Cup.
However, his best moment would come for the senior side in the EFL Cup. Playing against Sunderland, Patino displayed perfect vision to get on the end of a Nicolas Pepe pass and score his first senior career goal.
Charlie Patino @CharliePatino10
Age: 18
Nationality: 🏴
Position: DM/CM
Youth Stats: 47 apps, 3⚽️, 5🅰️
Senior Stats: 2 apps, 1⚽️(Thread) pic.twitter.com/ktfaLsxyjq
— Hale End Productions (@Balogunner14) July 4, 2022
Patino has mastered the art of deep line playmaking, which makes him an offensive gem. In addition, the teenager is also a great presser of the ball. He breaks the opposition’s press with the ball, dribbling and passing. And when the team loses the ball, he quickly closes down the passing lanes to stifle the opposition.
So he is an excellent vision, has incredible passing range, and is an outstanding dribbler. But several other players possess these qualities. So what makes Charlie Patino special? It’s his other quality that makes him a rare breed of midfielders. It is the gift of physicality.
Patino has shades of Yaya Toure and Clarence Seedorf, which means he is simultaneously an outstanding creator and a non-nonsense tackling defender. While you find these qualities in a defensive midfielder, Patino is one of the few number eights who can do this job.
Also read: Manchester United were crying out for a number 6 for years. In Casemiro, they now have the world’s best
Charlie Patino stats
Patino has played 47 times in his youth career, in which he has managed three goals and five assists. However, Patino’s importance to a team cannot be gauged by mere stats. Patino is the type of player who is a silent assassin, which means when he plays, he goes unnoticed, but if you watch him, you can see the entire game.
Moreover, he is an expert in scoring solo goals, a quality that can help when the team is in dire need. His goal against Manchester United in the under-23 is a perfect example. After moving to Blackpool, Patino has played 75 minutes after five games. During this, he has created two chances for his team. However, he still has to show consistent form before he can earn the trust of his manager as an undisputed starter.
Start him RT @goal: Arsenal's teenage midfielder @CharliePatino10 gliding through a Man Utd defence including Jones and Henderson 🌟#NXGN pic.twitter.com/OknzsFtF7B
— Code Switch Aficionado (@HollywoodCoIe) September 12, 2021
Charlie Patino scout report
Patino is not your average young talented midfielder but a player who has been blessed with far too many qualities. While a midfielder is expected to be brilliant on the ball, have exquisite dribbling skills and have an excellent passing range, Patino does not stop here. He might be the team’s creative genius but will not shy from putting in the defensive work. He is a box-to-box midfielder with the physicality of a defensive midfielder and the creativity of the number 10 or the now defunct Trequartista.
Patino is adept at receiving balls in half-spaces and quickly turning to move the play forward. Patino prefers to move the ball centrally, which is challenging but shows how much he trusts his skills. His dribbling also forces the opposition’s players to come at him, creating space on the pitch, especially between the midfield and defence.
While he still has limited minutes under his belt, Patino is a very rapid learner. And if he keeps up his performance, a more prominent role at the Emirates stadium could be waiting for him next season.
Charlie Patino at Arsenal
Arsenal have identified a proper gem. They wouldn’t let him go no matter the money they are offered. Patino is a player with a high probability of succeeding at the top level. He has already shown a lot of promise and has also performed admirably in the few chances that he has got.
Arsenal loanee Charlie Patino has been balling for Blackpool.
We have a gem of a footballer with us ❤️pic.twitter.com/Nzsm2i8rj6
— Sean™ (was GargantuanFC) (@ArtOfMikel) August 23, 2022
Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal are finally becoming a force again after so many years. Martin Odegaard has been brilliant, with Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, and William Saliba performing at their best. And Patino could join them next season as an understudy.
The mood at Emirates has never been better in recent years, but a successful season at Blackpool will surely make the ride merrier for the Arsenal fans.