Charlie Patino had a "big influence" on his first Championship start for Blackpool - but it was cut short by a nasty ankle injury which he picked up before half-time.
The 18-year-old left Arsenal on loan earlier this month to link up with Michael Appleton's team on a season-long loan. Patino is regarded as one of the Gunners' brightest talents produced by their famous Hale End academy in recent years, and the midfielder showed glimpses of his potential on Tuesday.
Sadly for Patino, however, his first league start for Blackpool - whose supporters already have a song for him - ended in pain, having fully gone over his ankle during the first 45 minutes of a trip to Queens Park Rangers in what looked like an excruciating injury. The Watford-born prodigy, who has Spanish roots through his father, was clearly in discomfort and it became evident that he wouldn't be able to feature after the break.
Thankfully for the Seasiders, though, they secured a superb 1-0 win at Loftus Road thanks to Josh Bowler's goal on the brink of half-time. Blackpool came into the match having won only one of their first four games in all competitions, with Patino appearing in two defeats.
But as Appleton and co got back to winning ways, Patino was still able to make an impact in his half of action and earn praise from his new gaffer. The youngster, who Arsenal shelled out £10,000 to sign from Luton Town in 2015 when he was only 11, drew the most fouls in the match (four) and boasted a 93 per cent passing accuracy, the best of any player on the pitch to play 45 minutes or more.
Sadly, Appleton also provided a concerning post-match update on his starlet's injury. "The injury to Charlie was a big blow because he was having a big influence on the game, he was playing his part," the Seasiders boss began in his post-match press conference. "It's not great if I'm being honest.
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"Obviously we'll know the full extent over the next 72 hours I'd imagine... Charlie, his ankle is quite badly swollen and it was badly swollen at half-time, so it's something we've got to control and get the swelling down. Once we're in a position where the swelling is under control we can go and get it scanned."
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be hoping for good news on Patino's situation, having tipped him for big things after the starlet scored just 10 minutes into his Gunners first-team debut in a League Cup quarter-final against Sunderland last December. "[The fans] heard about him and know what he can become and now we have to cook him slowly," Arteta explained.
"[Too much hype 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. Today he was lucky, he got the opportunity and he took it really well."
