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Arsenal Wonderkid Charlie Patino Once Embarrassed Phil Jones & Dean Henderson With Superb Solo Goal

Arsenal Wonderkid Charlie Patino Once Embarrassed Phil Jones & Dean Henderson With Superb Solo Goal

Patino enjoyed a dream debut for Arsenal's senior side.

Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan

Arsenal’s newest star Charlie Patino once embarrassed Phil Jones and Dean Henderson in an U23 match earlier this season.

Patino, 18, enjoyed a dream debut for Arsenal’s senior team on Tuesday night, coming off the bench to score in their 5-1 win over Sunderland in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. 

Arsenal fans are understandably excited by Patino’s potential – and it is not the first time the midfielder has shown his quality.

Earlier this season, he scored a superb solo goal against Manchester United while playing for the U23s.

In footage which has resurfaced on Twitter, Patino wins the ball back in midfield before going on a mazy run past three defenders, including former England international Jones.

He then delicately dinks the ball over Henderson to score. 

Patino has been tipped for greatness by the scout who discovered him for Arsenal, Brian Stapleton.

"Of all the years I’ve been scouting, he’s the best kid I’ve ever seen," said Stapleton.

"I got a tip off about Charlie from a guy, so I went over there and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

“He was 11 and I think he was playing in the U13s, and I was like ‘wow’.

"His first touch was unbelievable, his vision, his awareness of space. He was way above his years, he was on another planet to anyone else on the pitch.

"I made a phone call to my head of my department at Arsenal at the time, Sean O’Connor.

“He asked what I thought and I said, ‘well, I’m not coming back again. I don’t need to see any more, you need to sign this kid straight away."

Stapleton added: "Sean O’Connor discovered Jack Wilshere and he said to me that Charlie is the best player who has ever walked through the doors at Hale End.

Patino scored his first senior goal for Arsenal on Tuesday (Image credit: Alamy)
Patino scored his first senior goal for Arsenal on Tuesday (Image credit: Alamy)

"The kid has got so much potential, but he’s not there yet."

Patino’s first senior goal capped a comfortable win for Arsenal on Tuesday, with another academy graduate Eddie Nketiah also scoring a hat-trick.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was pleased the youngster had a successful debut in front of his home crowd.

"A beautiful moment. He is a kid that is coming through our system, a lovely kid. He is training with us almost every week. It was a dream," said Arteta.

"As a debut to come here, to score in front of our fans, a really special moment."

Featured Image Credit: Arsenal Academy/Twitter

Topics: Arsenal, Football, Premier League, Phil Jones, Dean Henderson, Manchester United

Rory O'Callaghan is Editorial Lead at SPORTbible. He has previously worked for Sky Sports News, MailOnline and Reach covering football, cricket, boxing and MMA. Tested daily as a Liverpool fan in a Manchester office.

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