Blackpool striker Jerry Yates has lauded Arsenal loanee Charlie Patino after the teenager stole the show for the Tangerines in their 4-2 win against rivals Preston North End.
Speaking to the Evening Standard, the 25-year-old Championship star was full of praise for the Hale End academy graduate, who bagged a goal and an assist in the West Lancashire derby, with local media raving over Patino’s performance as Blackpool earned all three points.
Patino has enjoyed a good loan spell with Blackpool despite some injury concerns at the start of the campaign. However, the youngster has now begun to find his rhythm, and Saturday’s performance was easily one of the best the midfielder has ever produced at a senior level.
The midfielder made his senior debut for Arsenal last season with Patino scoring against Sunderland in the League Cup before featuring again for Mikel Arteta’s side in the FA Cup against Nottingham Forest, and this loan spell in the Championship is proving to be a huge boost for the 19-year-old’s development.
Indeed, Patino’s performance on Saturday was exactly what the youngster needed, and according to his Blackpool teammate, the Arsenal talent has the potential to become quite the player if he can remain injury-free and if he can build from Saturday’s Man of the Match display.
Yates said when asked about Patino’s performance: “He’s sensational. He deserves all the credit. Hearing the fans singing his song for 90 minutes I bet is surreal to be honest. He’s only young, but the way he has took to the Championship is unbelievable. He’ll be a top, top player.”
Arsenal played a blinder in sending Patino to Blackpool
Patino is a player who has long been on Arsenal fans’ radars, and this loan spell at Blackpool has done little to lower supporters’ expectations over what the midfielder could do in the coming years, with the England youth international taking the Championship by storm with Blackpool.
Whilst it might be some time before we see the youngster become a regular with Arsenal, this loan spell with the Tangerines is exactly what Patino needed to enhance his development, and things can only get better from here for the 19-year-old sensation.
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