Charlie Patino is adamant that there's more to come after he netted on his Arsenal debut earlier in the season.
The Gunners have nurtured some serious young talent over the years - but Patino has the scope to evolve into Hale End's most accomplished academy graduate yet. The 18-year-old wonderkid had the Arsenal faithful buzzing before he'd even kicked a ball in a senior match for the Londoners - but he wasted little time in making a meaningful impression after he was handed his proper debut by Mikel Arteta back in December.
Patino was introduced in the final minutes of Arsenal's 5-1 win over Sunderland in the Carabao Cup quarter-final. Arsenal were 4-1 up when the teenage prodigy was brought on; 10 minutes later, he had bagged his first senior goal to cap a stunning night for the Gunners starlet.
And Patino has revealed how that "amazing night" has made him hungry for more first-team action. He told Goal : “It was an amazing night. 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 crossed it in, it was just amazing, honestly.”
He continued: “I remember afterwards I was just hugging the staff and all the players were coming over to me and saying, 'congratulations, you deserve this, enjoy your night'.
“My family and my agent were watching in the Adidas box, and just walking in and seeing their faces afterwards was great because they’d all spent so much time travelling up and down the country watching me play over the years when I was at St Albans, Luton and Hale End. I said to my family that night, 'this is just the start, I want more'.”
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After netting against the Black Cats, Patino was handed his first senior start just a week later when Arsenal were dumped out of the FA Cup by Nottingham Forest. Arteta was adamant at the time that the disappointing experience would stand the youngster in good stead - and Patino is now bidding to channel that experience into challenging for a regular first-team berth next year.
He added: “This season has been great for me. Playing games with the Under-23s, whether that be in Premier League 2 or against men in the Papa John’s Trophy. Then getting the call-up to be with the first team for eight or nine weeks was amazing.
“I know the difference now between the first team and the U23s and it’s massive. The speed of the game, the quality, how quick they move the ball, the strength of the players. Just getting that understanding of where I need to be, how much gym I need to do, the technical and tactical side of the game. It’s all been so important.
“Now I just want to kick on, hopefully be with them in pre-season and try to establish myself a spot in the dressing room.”
