Charlie Patino is the latest Arsenal youngster to go out on loan to the English lower leagues, joining Championship Blackpool for the season.
Charlie Patino has joined Blackpool on loan for the 2022/23 campaign.
Arsenal and the Championship club came to full agreement over a loan to 2023, with Patino’s medical taking place Wednesday.
About the move, Patino told the Blackpool website, “This is a great opportunity for me, and I think I’m ready to take this on. It’s the next step of my career and I’m really excited to get going.
“I spoke to Danny Ballard and Dujon Sterling before coming to the Club and they were full of praise and said it’s an amazing place to be where everybody is welcome. They also mentioned the fans, the Tangerine Army, who are always on their feet at home and away games. I’m just buzzing to play in front of them and show them what I’m about.”
Blackpool Head Coach Michael Appleton added, “Charlie is a very talented boy and I’m delighted that Arsenal have trusted us to look after him and further his development.
“The Club has a good relationship with Arsenal from previous loan deals, as I have personally from taking players to my former clubs, with Brooke Norton-Cuffy being the most recent last season.
“Charlie is one of the best midfielders in his age group and I can’t wait to start working with him.”
Arsenal believe a Championship loan is the right move for Patino’s development at this point in his career and a positive spell could lead to him pushing for a first-team spot in 2023/24.
The deal also helps explain why Patino was in the stands for the Arsenal u21s’ game against St. Albans City on Monday, rather than on the pitch.
One of the main positives of a loan to Blackpool is the recent appointment of Appleton at the club.
Appleton previously worked for Lincoln City and managed Arsenal loanee Brooke Norton-Cuffy very well last season. Gunners fans will hope he can do the same with another of the club’s top youngsters.
Patino joined Mikel Arteta’s squad for the pre-season tour to Germany this summer, but he wasn’t selected for the subsequent trip to the US.
By the time Arsenal headed across the Atlantic, most of the first-team players were back, so it was difficult for Patino to get a game ahead of the full group of senior midfielders.
That continues to be true as we head into the new season. It’s been bad enough trying to get minutes for Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Lucas Torreira (who is likely on the way out), let alone youth midfielders.
A loan to the Championship will provide Patino with much greater consistency of minutes this campaign, if all goes well.