Arteta’s latest decision has made it extremely clear what the future holds for Charlie Patino at Arsenal

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Mikel Arteta has now sent a clear message to Arsenal starlet Charlie Patino.

Arsenal have now jetted off to the United States for their pre-season tour. Mikel Arteta’s side will face Bournemouth and Manchester United in Los Angeles, before taking on Liverpool in Philadelphia. 

Arsenal confirmed their 26-man squad for this US tour yesterday, with some notable names excluded. Takehiro Tomiyasu will remain at the Emirates Stadium due to injury, along with Kieran Tierney. Meanwhile, a number of Arsenal first team stars are still on holiday having competed in the latter stages of the Copa America and Euro 2024 earlier this summer. 

Due to these enforced absences, many of the most promising talents from the club’s Hale End academy system have been included in the touring squad. Plenty of attention will be on Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, who are amongst the more highly-rated prospects within the Gunners’ youth ranks. 

Charlie Patino is one player who used to be thought of just as highly. However, the 20-year-old midfielder has not been invited Stateside. 

• READ MORE: Arsenal pre-season tour 2024 – destination, fixtures, how to watch and more

Charlie Patino destined for Arsenal exit after pre-season tour exclusion

There has been speculation over Patino’s future at Arsenal for some time. Undoubtedly, he is a player that the club were once desperate to keep hold of, and he was even handed his senior Arsenal debut by Arteta in December 2021, when he came on off the bench and grabbed a goal against Sunderland in a League Cup clash. 

Since then, however, his progress has stalled somewhat. Loan stints in the Championship with Blackpool and, most recently, Swansea City, have allowed him to gain plenty of experience, but his performances have been inconsistent. 

It now seems that Arsenal are willing to let Patino go, or else he would surely have been called up to travel to America. Whether he departs on another loan or on a permanent basis remains to be seen, but it is clear that he has not been deemed ready to compete for a place in Arteta’s fist team squad at the Emirates Stadium this season.

As the England under-21 international only has one year left to run on his current contract, a permanent sale would suit the Gunners, mitigating the likelihood of him leaving as a free agent next summer.