To say that nineteen year old Arsenal loanee Charlie Patino has been a revelation at Swansea City would be seen by some as an understatement. After all, he has impacted positively in four of the seven games he has featured in for the Swans this season.
His three assists and first goal last weekend against Sheffield Wednesday have rubber stamped his importance to Swansea, and indeed head coach Michael Duff. There wasn’t a huge fanfare at Charlie’s arrival at the Swansea.Com, but reports on his ability at Arsenal were very evident. The Swans fought hard to get Patino in to the club on a season long loan. He was identified by the recruitment team under the guidance of Sporting Director Paul Watson as a key player for head coach Michael Duff this season.
The Gunners agreed and Charlie joined the Swans for the second game of the season at West Bromwich Albion, he immediately looked comfortable and at ease at Championship level. So far he has played in a defensive, attacking and central midfield role. His flexibility just what the Swans need alongside Captain Matt Grimes. On his debut at the Hawthorns he chipped in with his first assist.
Patino was at Blackpool last season, his loan was a success but the Tangerines were relegated. In his thirty four championship games he scored two goals and weighed in with four assists. Then as a young eighteen year old on his first outing in the Championship he took to the level quickly. Arsenal had already blooded Charlie as a seventeen year old in the League Cup, he scored against Sunderland in the quarter finals. He also made his first team debut in the FA Cup against Nottingham Forest.
Arsenal then went a stage further by placing him on the bench on six occasions in the Premier League, and despite not getting on the pitch his manager Mikel Arteta was extremely impressed. At a time when Arsenal were releasing players Patino got his loan move to Blackpool and that previous Chsmpionship experience has rewarded the Swans this season greatly.
Patino has been at the Gunners since the age of eleven. Arsenal scout Brian Stapleton recalls him joining the club. “Of all the years I’ve been scouting, he’s the best kid I’ve ever seen. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. He was eleven and I think he was playing in the Under thirteen side, and I was like ‘wow’. I made a phone call to the head of my department at Arsenal at the time, Sean O’Connor. He asked what I thought and I said, ‘well, I’m not coming back again. I don’t need to see any more, you need to sign this kid straight away.’”
Charlie progressed through the Arsenal age grade sides, always standing out and despite his slighter frame he displayed strength well beyond his years, Xharlie has evidenced that ability this season in a white shirt as well. He remembers his debut for Arsenal well. “When I came on, it was an amazing feeling hearing everyone chanting my name. It gave me so much confidence. I felt free, I felt like I could play like I normally play. Then when I got my first pass off, it brought even more confidence. Then to score after Pepe (Nicolas) crossed it in, it was just amazing, honestly.”
Swans team mate Jerry Yates also noticed Charlie’s potential last season when both were at Blackpool. “He’s sensational,” Yates said. “He deserves all the credit. Hearing the fans singing his song for ninety minutes I bet is surreal, to be honest. He’s only young, but the way he has taken to the Championship is unbelievable. He’ll be a top, top player.” Time has a great way of forming the future when paths cross in football. Nowadays both are assisting and scoring goals for Swansea.
Patino and Yates celebrate at Blackpool last season Oddly enough certain quarters were talking about Charlie leaving Arsenal in the summer on a permanent move. However, you would think Arteta thinks differently despite him calming the expectation on his young star. “Too much expectation around him is what we have to avoid. He still has a lot of competition in front of him. He is really young. And he needs to go step by step. Those steps are coming to fruition for Patino at Swansea with Michael Duff impressed with his efforts so far. “He’s a really good kid.
He’s really ambitious, but there is a reality and work ethic with it. It’s easy to say ‘I want to be this’, but he’s prepared to work every day. He goes through his clips, he wants to do extras and is a joy to work with. His ambition is to play for Arsenal, but he needs to play well for us. We’ll hopefully help him along the way.” (Source : The Athletic) His achilles heal in all this are his various ankle injuries, one which denied him of a full season at Blackpool, there have been a few others. Fortunately to date that hasn’t affected his Swansea progress.
The only way Charlie can achieve his Premier League Arsenal milestone is to continue to impress at the Swans. Arsenal, as all Premier League sides have a highly regarded and vested interest in the hands of another club, however, that doesn’t stop weekly monitoring of the player. What they are seeing currently is a player who is proving to be invaluable to his current loan club. As long as he appears in the starting eleven for the Swans and continues to impress with his diligence to improve there really can only be one answer to Charlie’s dream.
A return to Arsenal and a real opportunity to get that first team place cemented. What else is new on the Indy today ? Darker times – ⚽️ The Swans Player who took his own life Canary warped – ⚽️ Canary Countdown
