As football fans around the world will already know, containing your excitement over a young player is a very hard thing to do.
Us lovers of the beautiful game often find ourselves getting carried away whenever a new prospect bursts onto the scene, and rush to find highlights of the young star and label them “the next – insert world-renowned star here.”
However, with Charlie Patino, the urge to jump on the ever-growing hype train is just too tempting to resist, so allow me to climb aboard.
The Patino Hype Train
Michael Appleton’s Blackpool side have had a tough start to the Championship season, with the Seasiders having only won four of their 14 games this season.
Nevertheless, in Patino, the Tangarines have a shining light in their ranks and a source of real excitement.
Arsenal fans were already aware of the sky-high potential of the teenager, and were treated to a teaser of his talent, last season when he scored just minutes into his first-team debut during a league cup win over Sunderland in December 2021.
Fast forward eleven months, and the 18-year-old has now joined Blackpool on a season-long loan, cemented a first team spot and has racked up several impressive performances in just three months.
Touted to be one of the most promising Arsenal youngsters to come through since Jack Wilshere over a decade ago, moving to Blackpool was a perfect move for the teenager to gain some valuable first-team experience while nurturing his ever-growing weaponry of skills in a difficult division.
He has now made eight appearances for the club, starting five of these games and excelling as part of Appleton’s midfield trio.
When it comes to how Patino has fitted into his new team and how he has been received by his new fans, a good person to be able to answer these questions is the Blackpool writer for LancLive, Sean McGinlay.
Comments from Blackpool FC Reporter Sean McGinlay
“Blackpool fans have taken to Patino like he’s been here for years, already with a chant to his name.
“His ability to drift through the midfield under pressure and his incredible vision makes him an important asset.”
McGinlay, who became the Blackpool FC reporter a year ago, stated that the praise Patino has earned from the Blackpool manager is not a surprise considering the youngster’s paying style and the 46-year-old’s history with younger players.
“He is a young ambitious player who is keen to learn, and that is something Appleton has loved throughout his career, with him already having a track record of developing young players.
“Appleton wanted a player capable of playing in the deep-lying role, being brave in possession and Patino offers this in abundance.”
Finally, the former WhoScored and Breaking the Lines writer affirmed his belief in the fact that the teenager has the ability and attitude to become a dependable member of the Arsenal first team.
“There is no doubt in my mind that he will become an Arsenal regular given how high his standard is at just 18 years of age.
“Where he can go is up to him, but he certainly has the right attitude.”
Patino, who is of Spanish descent, has been labelled the next big thing to come out of Hale End with Arsenal scout Brian Stapleton, claiming that Patino was, “the best kid I’ve ever seen.” [Goal]
The teenager, who has made 17 appearances for England’s various youth teams, possesses fantastic dribbling ability, being able to drop shoulders and jink away from defenders with ease.
In addition to this, he also has great vision and weight of pass, while also being an underrated ball winner with deceptively high numbers for interceptions and tackles.
The former Luton youngster is tough and whole-hearted in his tackling which allows him to be deployed in deeper midfield roles as well as higher up the pitch in more attacking positions.
Comments from Breaking The Lines' Aden (@EyeTestFB)
Aden, who wrote a fantastic analytical piece on Patino for Breaking The Lines, believes that Arsenal see Patino as a number eight, and will end up switching between a box-to-box midfielder and an attacking midfielder deployed just behind the striker.
“I think it is safe to say that Arsenal see Patino as a number eight and I suspect he will oscillate between an eight and a ten throughout this career given his abilities on the ball and his technical quality.
“He’s ready to be a rotation option for the first team and the success of this loan will ultimately determine the next two to three years of his development.”
In addition to this, Aden also believes the Arsenal starlet reminds him of legendary Premier League midfielder Yaya Toure, stating that the teenager has the quality to hit extremely high levels in the game.
“Patino looks a lot like prime Yaya to me in terms of play style.
“Like Yaya, he’s a ball carrier who is also happy in and around the box.
“He also has height and power in his stride as well as fantastic ball striking ability and excellent reading of the game.”
Six, Eight or Ten?
Where does he prefer to play and where can his undeniable talent take him in the game?
Ultimately, only Patino himself will be able to answer these questions but it already seems a foregone conclusion that in whichever position his future does lie, he is a superstar midfielder in the making.
The England under-20 international will silence these queries with his performances on the pitch over the next couple of years, and us as eagerly awaiting Arsenal fans can only sit and watch as his story for club and country unfold before our very eyes.
Twitter: @NnamdiOnye
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