Teen Patino’s ‘beautiful’ debut has boss purring
MIKEL ARTETA hailed a ‘dream’ debut for Charlie Patino after the teenager scored to help Arsenal reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals with victory over Sunderland. ‘A beautiful moment,’ said Arteta following the 18-year-old’s first senior goal in last night’s 5-1 win. Eddie Nketiah scored a hat-trick and Nicolas Pepe also netted before Patino announced himself at the Emirates by turning the ball home in stoppage time. ‘It was a dream. As a debut to come here, to score in front of our fans, a really special moment,’ Arteta said. ‘He is a kid who is coming through our system, a lovely kid. (The fans) know what he can become and now we have to “cook” him slowly. Today was a good start.’ The Arsenal boss is desperate not to overburden the playmaker with expectation. ‘That is what we have to avoid,’ said Arteta. ‘He still has a lot of competition in front of him. 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.’ Last night also brought a first senior hat-trick for another academy graduate, Nketiah, whose future is uncertain as he approaches the last six months of his contract. ‘I’m desperate to play,’ said the 22-year-old. ‘Every player wants to play. All I can do is keep working hard day by day, and hopefully it will sort itself out. ‘Hopefully I get the opportunities. I think I’m just eager to play football, that’s my main ambition. I’m here, I’m under contract. As long as I play for Arsenal, I’m going to give my all.’ All of Nketiah’s five goals this season have come in the Carabao Cup and he added: ‘It’s the competition where I’ve been getting starts and opportunities to play. Whenever I’m asked to play, I’m going to do my best to help the team. I’m there if the manager needs me.’ Arteta reiterated that the club want to keep Nketiah, claiming: ‘We are trying. It’s not about anything else but minutes. He has incredible work-rate, he has pace and he has the smell for goals. ‘He has the capacity to finish in the box on any surface and I really like his character. He wants to be the best and works all the time to do that. He’s a player who has come through our system and we want to keep him.’