Charlie Patino is still hoping to make it in the first team at Arsenal, despite the links with a permanent move away in the summer.

Arsenal youth midfielder Charlie Patino is currently on loan with Swansea City in the Championship, but throughout the summer transfer window it looked like he might end up leaving permanently.

Early in the window, reports suggested Patino wasn’t keen on another loan, and he was hoping for a permanent exit – with Arsenal looking to include a buy-back clause in any potential deal.

But the situation changed, and the midfielder joined Swansea for the season instead.

Speaking to the media whilst on international duty with the England u21s, Patino suggested his mind is now set on following in the footsteps of the likes of William Saliba and returning to make it at Arsenal.

“Saliba is a different player to me,” Patino began by admitting. “He’s a centre back, big, powerful, so for me, it’s inspiring to see someone from Arsenal being able to go on loan, make a name for himself and come back and show his qualities at Arsenal because it is a massive club.

“Everyone’s journey is different. Bukayo went straight from academy to first team, Eddie went on a few loans, Emile went on a few loans, so everyone’s journey is different.

“But ultimately, it’s about getting to where you want to get to, and that’s the same for me. I want to play in the first team at Arsenal and being here (at Swansea) is a massive pathway to help me do that.”

Patino has scored a Goal of the Month winner and assisted three goals in nine games since joining Swansea City on loan. He’ll look to keep that form going in one of Swansea’s toughest tests yet against Leicester City on Saturday.