Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta attempted to temper expectations over Charlie Patino after the youngster’s impressive Gunners debut, but the midfielder has now achieved a new milestone
Arsenal starlet Charlie Patino continued his progress on Monday, with the youngster making his England Under-21 debut in a European Championship qualifier against Luxembourg.
Goals from Liam Delap, Callum Doyle and Cole Palmer helped the reigning European champions open up a 3-0 lead midway through the second half in Differdange. Young Lions boss Lee Carsley has been tasked with bringing through the next generation of talents, after some of the summer’s Euros winner aged out of the Under-21 squad, and that meant a chance for Patino.
It was only a brief run-out for the midfielder, who is spending the club season on loan at Swansea City. He was one of a number of teenagers in Carsley’s squad, along with fellow Under-21 debutants Samuel Iling-Junior and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, and his progress comes despite a previous warning from Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
Patino enjoyed a dream debut for Arsenal, scoring in a League Cup victory over Sunderland. Arteta celebrated the achievement at the time, but tried to ensure fans didn’t expect too much too soon, and the step-by-step approach has been continuing.