Charlie Patino turned down Tottenham and Chelsea to sign for Wenger’s Arsenal

Arsenal teenager Patino scored on his senior debut for the club as they moved into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, but things could have been very different

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Mikel Arteta reviews Sunderland win

Charlie Patino won’t forget his Arsenal debut in a hurry, and neither will the fans who saw him in action at the Emirates Stadium.

The 18-year-old came off the bench in the Carabao Cup quarter-final victory over Sunderland, and took just 10 minutes to get on the scoresheet for the club he joined as an 11-year-old.

Patino came on as a substitute for Emile Smith Rowe, with one product of the Arsenal academy replacing another, on a night which also saw Hale End graduate Eddie Nketiah score his first senior career hat-trick.

However, it could have been different for the young talent, who was courted by two of the Gunners’ London rivals before ultimately opting to join the club from Luton Town.

Patino was just 11 when Arsenal signed the midfielder from Luton in 2015, handing over £10,000 in compensation.

Arsene Wenger was still in charge of the Gunners back then, while Per Mertesacker – the current Arsenal Academy manager – was club captain.

According to reports from The Guardian at the time, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea were both in the market for the youngster, while Manchester City also made a late approach.

Patino was born in Watford and grew up in St Albans, and the proximity of Arsenal to his home city was reported as a factor in his decision at the time.

Patino had played twice for Arsenal’s under-21 side in the Papa John’s Trophy before making his senior debut, starting games against Ipswich Town and Swindon Town.

“He played against Swindon [in the Papa John’s Trophy] and was one of the best players. These are the games he needs to dominate and be exposed to, to make the next step,” Mertesacker said after the September game at the County Ground.

He also has a goal and an assist to his name in Premier League 2 this season, and played the full match as the Gunners’ under-18 side was eliminated from the FA Youth Cup by Colchester United.

“I am delighted [with Patino’s debut] but that’s down to all the work that has been done in the academy and for many years,” Arteta said in a press conference.

“Now it’s about finding the right moments to give them opportunities and finding the space in the squad to give them minutes”

Arsenal are expected to be without midfielders Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny in January, with the pair due to represent Ghana and Egypt respectively at the Africa Cup of Nations, and Arteta was asked whether their absence might bring more opportunities for Patino.

“Charlie is with us more and more in training sessions. Yesterday was his first competitive match and we will go slowly from there,” the manager said.

“If we need him we will use him but we will have to throw him in when he’s ready.”