Charlie Patino is a name that many Arsenal fans will be familiar with, having heard the followers of the under 23’s and club insiders extolling his virtues and praising his skills over the last 12 to 18 months. He’s been described as the ‘new Phil Foden’ by the labellers and unimaginative football souls unable to identify his array of talents but put very simply, he’s not the new anything, he’s Charlie Patino.
When Elvis was asked whom he sounded like by a talent scout, he said “Me” and that’s the right approach for this painfully young-looking player. The 18-year-old took to the pitch and looked as if he should have been in a nice warm bedroom playing the latest incarnation of FIFA on a games console, but here he was, on a blisteringly cold evening against Sunderland in the Carabao Cup semi-final at the Emirates with just 10 minutes to show what he’s about.
He went largely un-monitored by the Sunderland players but he got involved fairly quickly, attempting to retrieve the ball and get his side moving forward. The most notable thing early on was that he was wearing the number 87, which hardly had the hallmarks of a major talent or rising star.
Yet, one sensed that the devoted Arsenal fans were no longer interested in a game that had already been concluded, they were more focused on the ‘new boy’. I immediately started singing his name in my head to Dexy’s Midnight runner song Geno – ‘Charlie Pati- no’ (try it). Patino justified my early enthusiasm by getting on the end of a Pepe pass in the 91st minute and sweetly slotting in his first goal for Arsenal on his debut appearance.
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It was an added cherry to an already beautiful cake, how the Arsenal faithful embrace their homegrown youngsters from the academy and the hugs and smiles from Arteta at the end said it all. Expect to see more of this kid next season, a lot more.
So much class about Charlie Patino's goal in the Youth Cup last night. The first touch and the way he sets himself is perfect, finish isn't half bad either.
You can see why there is so much excitement about him. pic.twitter.com/Fgh7MwMwLI
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) December 16, 2020
Brian Stapleton, the Arsenal scout who first spotted Charlie Patino whilst he was playing for Luton Town, told GOAL in July:
“Sean O’Connor discovered Jack Wilshere and he said to me Charlie is the best player who has ever walked through the doors at Hale End,”
“The kid has got so much potential, but he’s not there yet.”
“There is a pathway that Arsenal have got for him and he’s probably going down the same pathway as Phil Foden at Manchester City.”
“Charlie has an amazing awareness of where he is on the pitch and where other players are on the pitch. His vision is so good, he can split a defence with a pass.”
“And he has that desire to do well. When he’s on that pitch he can be an animal, he’s a winner.”
There’s a long road ahead for Charlie Patino, but we’ll follow him all the way with the usual passion and pride as we Arsenal fans always do.
