Charlie Patino update confirms major Hale End flaw that Mikel Arteta must fix for Arsenal’s future

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Charlie Patino looks set to depart from Arsenal in the near future. 

There has been something of an exodus of Hale End academy talents from Arsenal this summer. 

Not so long ago, Charlie Patino was one of the most highly-rated youngsters on the books at the Emirates Stadium. Mikel Arteta handed the midfielder his first team debut back in September 2021, and he was able to mark that momentous occasion with a goal. 

Since then, though, the England under-21 international has struggled to make significant progress across loan spells with Blackpool and Swansea City in the Championship. The 20-year-old is now on the verge of leaving North London on a permanent basis.

Arsenal have agreed to sell Patino to Spanish second tier side Deportivo La Coruna for just £1 million.

Arteta has been blamed for mishandling Patino, and Arsenal will certainly recognise that had they opted to cash in on the youngster earlier, they would have fetched a bigger fee. 

However, his exit also speaks to a wider issue at the club’s academy that has been made plain this summer.

• READ MORE: Every Arsenal academy player to make their senior debuts under Mikel Arteta

Charlie Patino exit highlights Arsenal issue at Hale End academy

Arsenal failed to convince Reuell Walters to pen a new deal earlier this summer, and the defender subsequently joined Luton Town as a free agent.

On top of that, Arsenal also lost Chido Obi-Martin, who joined Manchester United after failing to agree fresh terms with the Gunners. 

This trend of promising youngsters leaving the club ought to be a growing cause for concern amongst the Arsenal hierarchy, especially as the Gunners haven’t been able to fetch a significant fee for any of these talented prospects.

How Mikel Arteta can fix Arsenal academy problem

As Arsenal have become increasingly successful and competitive on the pitch under the guidance of Arteta, it has subsequently become harder for talented youth team players to make the breakthrough into the first team picture.

On the one hand, this is obviously a good thing as it proves that the club are competing at a higher level. However, without a clear pathway into the senior team picture ahead of them, young players looking to make the step up will ultimately be forced to consider their options elsewhere.

Arteta must start taking more risks, whenever he can, to afford game time to promising youngsters.

Arteta has promised Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly that they will play this season if they earn the right to. The Spanish coach has to keep his end of that bargain, or that duo will surely soon consider taking their chances with a move too.