Arsenal academy star Charlie Patino enjoyed a moment to remember on Saturday as he bested Phil Jones and Dean Henderson en-route to scoring a lovely goal for the U23s side.
While the Gunners’ first team may not exactly be producing fireworks on the pitch, their academy continues to impress with several bright youngsters beginning to make their way up through the ranks.
Given how much change there’s been at the Emirates already in recent months it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see a few of them get called up to the senior squad this season, and that includes Charlie Patino.
A future star?
Arsenal found themselves 2-1 up over Manchester United’s U23s team with just minutes left to play and yet, the North Londoners were the ones going after another goal. With some noticeably tired legs at the back, the Red Devils were forced to succumb to a stunning run and finish from Patino – which included a failed tackle and save from the aforementioned Jones and Henderson.
In an overall sense the pair were considered to have had an okay game but ultimately, the plaudits go to 17-year-old Patino for putting on a real show to seal the win.
Whether or not he’d be able to replicate such a move on the big stage at the Emirates is an entirely different matter but the word we’d use here above all others is “promising”. There was a real elegance to his play not just in the lead-up to the goal, but throughout his entire time on the pitch.
If he can continue to channel that then bright things will be in this lad’s future.
Featured image credit: Getty
