11 September 2023 , 22:53
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Arsenal starlet Charlie Patino continued his progress on Monday, with the youngster making his England Under-21 debut in a European Championship qualifier against Luxembourg.
Goals from Liam Delap, Callum Doyle and Cole Palmer helped the reigning European champions open up a 3-0 lead midway through the second half in Differdange. Young Lions boss Lee Carsley has been tasked with bringing through the next generation of talents, after some of the summer's Euros winner aged out of the Under-21 squad, and that meant a chance for Patino.
It was only a brief run-out for the midfielder, who is spending the club season on loan at Swansea City. He was one of a number of teenagers in Carsley's squad, along with fellow Under-21 debutants Samuel Iling-Junior and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, and his progress comes despite a previous warning from Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
Patino enjoyed a dream debut for Arsenal, scoring in a League Cup victory over Sunderland. Arteta celebrated the achievement at the time, but tried to ensure fans didn't expect too much too soon, and the step-by-step approach has been continuing.
"I think that is very positive [that the fans were singing his name]," the Spaniard said at the time. "They heard about him and know what he can become and now we have to cook him slowly. Today was a good start, I think.
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“[Too much expectation around him] is what we have to avoid. He still has a lot of competition in front of him. He is really young. And he needs to go step by step. Today he was lucky, he got the opportunity and he took it really well.”
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Swansea loanee Charlie Patino made his England Under-21 debut on Monday (PA)After making two senior appearances in the 2021-22 season, Patino joined Blackpool on loan last term. He played 37 times for the Championship club, but reports over the summer indicated a permanent move away from Arsenal could be on the cards.
Arteta's team added more than £150m worth of midfield talent to their ranks in the form of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz. However, rather than making a permanent sale - amid reports from The Athletic that clubs at home and overseas were interested - the club decided to send him out on loan again.
Patino has wasted little time making an impact at the Liberty Stadium. He provided an assist from the bench on the debut before starting the next three games and setting up two further goals, providing a bright spark despite the Swans' tough start to the campaign.
“I thought Charlie looked good, he is a good footballer but he also played with a purpose,” Swansea head coach Michael Duff said after the youngster's first appearance. “He played forward, but kept it when we had to keep it, so he was a real positive."