Eddie Nketiah stated that Charlie Patino has a ‘great future’ ahead of him after he scored on his Arsenal debut on Tuesday night, as he told Sky Sports.
Arsenal beat Sunderland 5-1 to progress through to the semi-finals of the EFL Cup, with teenager Patino coming off the bench to score and Nketiah thinks that he impressed in front of his home crowd.
It was Nketiah’s name that was up in lights during the match because he scored a hat-trick against the League One outfit.
Not many stories can overshadow a player that has just scored a hat-trick for his club.
But with an 18-year-old wonderkid, that many Arsenal fans have talked up for a long while, to come on and do the business, then he may well be the talk of the town now.
Nonetheless, this is what hat-trick hero Nketiah had to say about his former Hale-End teammate.
“It’s amazing for him,” said Nketiah. “He’s a great lad with a great future ahead of him.
“I was delighted for him to get on the scoresheet. It’s a great opportunity in this game to get your debut and impress. I think he did that.”
This is a season where the Arsenal young guns are thriving and Mikel Arteta’s long-term plan is paying off.
Whether it’s a teenager coming through the ranks or Gabriel Martinelli, who was snapped up from Brazil, being ruthless in front of goal.
The youngsters are outperforming a number of the senior players and if this trend continues, then it will bode well for Arsenal in their quest to get back to the top.
All in all, it was an evening to remember for Patino and he will now be hoping this is the start of his journey right to the top.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
