According to The Guardian, Mikel Arteta is a fan of Arsenal teenager Charlie Patino – and eevn had him training with the first team in September.
Patino has been picked out as Arsenal’s future star in The Guardian’s Next Generation article, with some lofty comparisons made.
The report notes that Patino has been compared to Jack Wilshere, but he also resembles Phil Foden in terms of his style of play.
Arsenal boss Arteta is thought to be a fan of the 16-year-old, and even had him training with the Gunners first team just last month.
Patino is expected to make a rapid rise to the Under-23’s this season, with Arsenal clearly having high hopes for the central midfielder.
Arsenal raided Luton Town to sign Patino at the age of just 11, which does echo the move for Wilshere; Arsenal signed Wilshere from Luton at the of nine.
Arteta has shown a willingness to play homegrown prospects such as Bukayo Saka, Joe Willock and Eddie Nketiah, so Patino at least has the encouragement to push for first-team football in the future.
He is still only 16, but being called up for senior training, impressing Arteta and earning comparisons to Foden suggests that Patino is on the path to stardom at Arsenal.
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