Arsenal youngster Charlie Patino has gone viral after destroying Manchester United first-team players Dean Henderson and Phil Jones with a wonderful solo goal.
Patino is one of the Gunners’ top prospects and has even been called one of the greatest talents to step foot in Hale End.
Similar to Jack Wilshere, Patino can glide past defenders with the ball glue to his feet. We got a good glimpse of it during an U23s game over the weekend.
At the 17-year-old’s mercy was Jones, who hasn’t played a competitive match for United in over a year.
Simply stunning from @CharliePatino10 🤩 pic.twitter.com/fqi6pXMqCV
— Arsenal Academy (@ArsenalAcademy) September 12, 2021
Patino dispossessed Martin Svidersky before drifting past him and Teden Mengi.
Jones attempted to slide in and block Patino’s run but he hopped over before chipping Henderson to secure victory.
Fans on social media have reacted to the skill and they want to see Patino get a run in the Arsenal first team.
Sat down the defender and the keeper. Composure for days. Might have another one off the Hale End production line #Patino pic.twitter.com/DfgOztmCOv
— AFCAMDEN (@AFCAMDEN) September 12, 2021
Charlie Patino just finished Phil Jones & Dean Henderson…pic.twitter.com/darwtAqbSe
— Harry (@RunReissRun) September 12, 2021
Charlie Patino sending Phil Jones and Dean Henderson for a Hot Dog 😍
— Gunners (@Gunnersc0m) September 12, 2021
His running and technique is the same as Jack Wilshere.
— BFA (@FlertBFA) September 12, 2021
Future Ballon D’or winner. You heard it here first.
— . (@AFCWaIter2) September 12, 2021
Brian Stapleton is the man who spotted Patino while he was playing at Luton Town and heaped praise on the youngster in an interview with Goal.
“Of all the years I’ve been scouting, he’s the best kid I’ve ever seen,” he said.
“I got a tip off about Charlie from a guy, so I went over there and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. He was 11 and I think he was playing in the Under-13s, and I was like ‘wow’.
“His first touch was unbelievable, his vision, his awareness of space. He was way above his years, he was on another planet to anyone else on the pitch.
View this post on Instagram
“I made a phone call to my head of my department at Arsenal at the time, Sean O’Connor. He asked what I thought and I said, ‘well, I’m not coming back again. I don’t need to see any more, you need to sign this kid straight away.'”
Will we see him in Mikel Arteta’s side before the end of this season? Watch this space.
Featured Image Credit: Arsenal Academy/Twitter