In collaboration with Goal, Voetbalzone highlights young players twice a week who can go far in the future or who are already earning their spurs in (inter)national top football. This time the focus is on the seventeen-year-old midfielder Charlie Patino. He is seen at Arsenal as the greatest talent developed in the Hale End academy this century. Patino is therefore rated higher than, for example, Cesc Fabregas and Jack Wilshere, so people in London are eagerly looking forward to his big break.
Although the first team has struggled to perform in the Premier League in recent years, the youth academy led by former player Per Mertesacker continues to perform well. The club has invested more than €60 million over the past four years to renew Hale End and it is paying off. Top talents such as Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe are prepared for the big work at the Emirates Stadium with the most modern techniques and facilities. They are already undisputed basic players under Mikel Arteta, who has a total of nine selection players who have spent at least part of their youth academy with the Gunners have enjoyed.
In addition, a new batch of hopeful teenagers is waiting behind it. Youth players Omari Hutchinson, Jack Henry-Francis and Arthur Okonkwo already had a chance to prove themselves this summer in preparation for the new season, although it became clear with the latter that he is not yet at the level of the first team. For whom that does apply is Charlie Patino. He had to wait a little while before the summer break due to a hamstring injury before he also got a chance in the preseason, but made his unofficial debut on Wednesday in a closed-door exhibition game against Watford (4-1 win).
So not much is known about that match, but connoisseurs are sure that he will quickly pick up at the main force. “In all my years as a Scout, I have never seen such a talented boy as he,” assures Scout Brian Stapleton in an exclusive interview with Goal and football zone. He is the one who saw Patino play at Luton Town from a very young age and urged the club management to bring him to Arsenal. “I couldn’t believe what I saw there. He was 11, played in the Under-13s and only one thing made me think: wow! His assumptions were great, as were his overview and sense of spaces. He was way ahead of his peers, as if he came from another planet.”
Stapleton called his then boss Sean O’Connor before the end of the match, was asked what he thought and the scout didn’t have to think twice. “I said I didn’t need to see anymore. We had to convince him as soon as possible and luckily we succeeded.” Arsenal trumped Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham, among others, when Patino joined in 2015 the Gunners. Since then, he has been treated as a future main squad player, with no expense spared to get him ready for the big job.
Patino, who recently signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with Adidas, was born in London and grew up just a few miles from the Arsenal stadium. He started at St Albans at a young age and was soon noticed by Luton Town. He played there until he was eleven, as Steve Morrow remembers well. He was Arsenal’s head of youth academy at the time and, on Stapleton’s advice, took action to convince Patino. “It was clear that Charlie was incredibly talented. He really is a great talent. We knew a lot of clubs wanted him, so we had to take immediate action,” Morrow assures Goal and football zone.
Patino duels with Florian Wirtz as England Under-17 player. Wirtz is now an A-international of Germany, one year older, and a rapid international breakthrough is also looming for Patino.
Patino’s father Jules comes from Spain and the teenager’s playing is heavily influenced by his Spanish roots. Andrès Iniesta is one of his idols and the Spanish Football Association would like to sign him, because the midfielder can play for both countries. For the time being, his preference is for England, but that could have turned out very differently. Barcelona has shown interest in the past and the youngster has indicated that he would also like to play football in Spain one day. “My father is a big fan of Deportivo La Coruna because he grew up in Spain,” Patino told Arsenal.com. “Maybe one fine day I could play for them. I have a lot of admiration for the Spanish playing style.”
It is therefore not surprising that at Arsenal he has mainly looked at the Spanish players who have represented his club in recent years. “I used to really look up to Santi Cazorla. Cesc Fabregas and Mikel Arteta were also among my favorites, but Santi has something special for me. With his unique qualities, he really is an example,” said the player who made his debut in the Under-23 of the United States last season at the age of 17. the Gunners. His rapid progression was halted there by a hamstring injury, but he is expected to become an undisputed starting player for the top team this season. And that while he can only celebrate his eighteenth birthday in October.
Logically, there is a lot of interest in hiring the left-footed ‘number 8’, but under no circumstances should he leave Arsenal. The club wants to further mold him and expects that he can already make his debut in the first team this season. “Sean O’Connor is considered the discoverer of Jack Wilshere and he told me Charlie is the best player ever at Hale End in his eyes,” assures Scout Stapleton. “He really has a lot of potential, but also has to realize that he is not there yet. Arsenal have mapped out a path for him that is very similar to Phil Foden’s at Manchester City.”
Foden, four years older, was the Citizens also not loaned out because he was carefully supervised during training by coach Josep Guardiola and by Mikel Arteta, who was then assistant coach and now holds sway at Arsenal. Stapleton is therefore convinced that the trainer will meticulously prepare the talent for the Premier League. “Charlie is extremely aware of where everyone is on the pitch. He can split defenses with one pass and is constantly looking for that. He has a huge drive to succeed and always leads the way in battle. He is a real winner.”
The Gunners As said, take a good look at how Manchester City have handled it with their top talent Phil Foden. Patino was also allowed to train regularly with the first team last season and has been appointed a specialist coach to work with him on his speed and explosiveness. To prevent it from being brought too quickly and thereby going under, internal efforts are being made for a major breakthrough in the 2022/23 season. Still, there is a good chance that Arteta does not want to wait that long, because he could use some extra creativity in midfield now that the club is looking for rehabilitation. The team grabbed next to European football and would love to return to the Champions League.
Patino can already play a role in this, according to retired scout Stapleton. “If Charlie continues like this, he can handle anything. He is a very humble boy and never forgets where he comes from. When players sign their first professional contract with Arsenal, the club will give them two pens with their name and date. After Charlie signed, he immediately called me to come to his house,” Stapleton said. “I went straight away and he offered me one of his pens. For me as a scout that was very special. Guys like him make it worth standing in the rain every day along the fields looking for talent. He’s special and I’m sure Charlie will give us many more great moments.”