The 18-year-old took the spotlight after scoring his debut goal for Arsenal in the EFL Cup.
Arsenal secured an emphatic 5-1 win against Sunderland in the EFL Cup quarter-finals last night, which saw them book their place in the final four.
Eddie Nketiah might have scored a match-winning hat-trick but all eyes were on debutant Charlie Patino when he scored the winning goal in injury time.
The 18-year-old came off the bench towards the closing stages but made an immediate impact by netting an impressive goal.
The Gunners manager Mikel Arteta lauded the teenager’s debut but insisted he has to be protected from the overwhelming hype.
The Spanish manager said (h/t Metro): “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.
“That [too much hype] is what we have to avoid. He still has a lot of competition in front of him,’ said Arteta.
“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.”
“I know, I know (Fans chanting Patino’s name). I think that is very positive. 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.”
The English U-19 star has been with the Gunners’ youth ranks for six years and last night, he announced him to the world with an impressive debut.
Patino is another instance that the North Londoners haven’t stopped churning out young talents.
