‘Outstanding’ Arsenal midfielder may have now played his last minutes for the club - opinion
He had so much potential ????
On Sunday Arsenal announced their 26-man squad for their pre-season tour of the United States, which will kick off against Bournemouth.
Mikel Arteta’s side will face Andoni Iraola’s team on Wednesday and then later play Manchester United and Liverpool before returning to London for the Emirates Cup.
Arsenal do have two new signings travelling to the US for the games, but they are not the duo that supporters of the club may have imagined.
18-year-olds Tommy Setford and Lucas Nygaard have been included in the squad after joining this summer because both David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale are on holiday after the Euros.
In that regard, Karl Hein should be number one for the tour – a player who still may head out on loan next month.
And when it comes to youngsters who have outgrown the academy sides, Charlie Patino’s future will be an important topic this summer.
Patino is much-loved by the Arsenal faithful, a player who was once the richest young talent at the club.
But after not being included in the US tour group, the writing must be on the wall for Patino.
Charlie Patino overlooked for Arsenal’s 26-man squad for US tour
Arsenal included Patino in pre-season training having returned from his loan at Swansea City and he’s featured in wins against Boreham Wood and Leyton Orient in recent weeks.
However, despite a host of youngsters being involved in Arteta’s travelling party, Patino’s name wasn’t present.
It’s therefore hard to consider that Patino will stay at the club this summer, whether it’s a permanent exit he will seek or another loan move.
But without news of an injury, there’s simply no other explanation of why Patino wouldn’t be involved at this point.
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The 20-year-old, who has been hailed as ‘outstanding’ in the past, is definitely good enough to play in the US – he’s not behind the likes of Michal Rosiak and Jimi Gower on quality.
And therefore with Patino reported to have just one-year left on his contract it seems as if he may have played his last minutes in an Arsenal shirt.
It would seem that Patino’s future is set to be resolved during the time in which Arsenal will be in the States, otherwise the midfielder would have surely travelled.
A big shame from an Arsenal fan perspective, but it is time for Patino to find a new home and attempt to realise all of his rich potential.
That being said, TBR Football recently shared what Arsenal intend to do with Thomas Partey this summer, another midfielder linked with an exit.
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