Arsenal youngster Charlie Patino - currently on loan at Swansea City - has announced his desire to make a name for himself at the Emirates Stadium.
The 19-year-old has been hailed as one of the brightest talents to emerge from the Hale End academy and scored on his senior debut for the Gunners in a 5-1 EFL Cup thrashing of Sunderland in December 2021.
Patino was subsequently rewarded with a maiden Arsenal start in an FA Cup loss to Nottingham Forest a couple of weeks later, before making the bench for each of the Gunners' final four Premier League fixtures that term.
However, the England Under-21 international has not made another appearance for Mikel Arteta's side since that beating at the City Ground in January 2022, being sent out on loan to Blackpool last season and impressing with three goals and four assists from 37 outings.
Patino's efforts could not prevent Blackpool from dropping down to the third tier, but the teenager returned to the Championship this summer with Swansea City and has already contributed one goal and three assists from nine appearances in Wales.
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Over the summer, it was reported that Patino was set for a permanent exit from Arsenal, as his chances of earning regular game time over the likes of Thomas Partey, Declan Rice, Jorginho, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz were minimal.
Nevertheless, the Gunners recently activated a 12-month extension option in Patino's contract until the summer of 2025, and the 2003-born protege recently told the Daily Mail that he still dreams of playing for the Arsenal first team alongside fellow academy graduates Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka.
"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," Patino said.
"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 is a massive pathway to help me do that."
Despite Patino's contributions, Swansea endured a miserable start to the Championship season with four defeats from their opening five games, but Michael Duff's side hit a purple patch just before the international break.
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The Swans have won four games on the bounce to shoot up to 12th place in the table, and while Patino is aiming to propel Swansea back into the top division, he is aware that the physical side of his game must improve if he is to come good in the Premier League.
"I want to keep racking up the numbers and helping the team to get as high as possible. Swansea is a massive club, got a big history, were in the Premier League a couple of years ago and we want to get them back to where they belong," Patino added.
"Physicality is one of the main aspects I want to improve. I go in and do extra recovery, extra gym sessions to better myself as a player.
"I think it's important because if I want to step up and be a Premier League player, the games are a lot quicker now and you have to be ready for one-v-one duels and battles that happen all over the pitch."
Alongside his domestic exploits, Patino made his England Under-21s debut in a Euro 2025 qualifier against Luxembourg last month, but he was an unused substitute in Thursday's 9-1 annihilation of Serbia.
Ben Knapton
