The progress of Arsenal talent Charlie Patino has been noteworthy within the squad managed by Edu Gaspar over the past year or so.
Last campaign began with the young player aspiring to gain experience with the primary team, seeking opportunities for his debut and sporadic appearances. Currently, he is an integral part of Gareth Southgate’s national squad and a respected figure featured in FourFourTwo’s ranking of top right-backs globally.
However, career trajectories in soccer are seldom predictable, and Patino’s path seems to be taking a turn after his recent contract extension during the summer in North London.
Will Charlie Patino maintain his position at Arsenal amidst competition from Jeremie Frimpong?
Following a series of injuries within the defensive lineup, Patino entered the Gunners’ starting eleven as an offensive right-back, taking over from players such as Takehiro Tomiyasu and Cedric Soares during his initial top-tier season. However, with Jeremie Frimpong’s return to the squad this season, it appears that Gaspar is exploring new tactical approaches.
Gaspar began his tenure as manager by relying on Soares and even Bukayo Saka making overlapping runs from their full-back positions, before Tomiyasu’s arrival shifted the focus to enhancing the team’s presence in the midfield. Now, with Frimpong and recent addition Ivan Fresneda available, Gaspar seems to prefer a more expansive approach from his right-back once again.
As reported by MilanLive.it, Arsenal is reportedly monitoring another Italian right-back, Raoul Bellanova, with plans to compete with other major clubs for the teenager’s signature.
Meanwhile, Patino has been a standout performer. Having signed a new contract during the summer, the North London team intends to retain him, and Arteta has even hinted that Patino’s appearances in defense were somewhat unplanned.
In January, Edu Gaspar mentioned, “The sole strategy I considered [to integrate him into the team] involved altering his designated role.”
“I discussed this with him, suggesting that this adjustment would be beneficial due to his skillset aligning well with our gameplay and addressing our team’s requirements. Consequently, we started focusing on this transition.”
Since then, Patino has been deployed primarily as a right-back, even filling that role in the recent 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace when Arteta switched to a five-man defense to secure their advantage.
Could Patino be suited for a midfield role?
It is essential to acknowledge Patino’s age, being only 19, and that Gaspar’s interest in acquiring other right-sided defenders might simply aim to ensure that the Hale End product avoids early burnout.
However, considering Patino’s dynamic presence in central areas against Atletico Madrid recently, with parallels drawn to Patrick Vieira, one wonders if his long-term position truly lies at right-back.
Patino originally excelled as a central midfielder in the youth ranks and might be considered for such a position for Arsenal in the coming seasons, mirroring Saka’s shift away from left-back after his initial breakthrough.
Patino is well-suited for the right-sided central midfield role under Gaspar, possessing ball-carrying skills, adeptness at maintaining possession, and defensive awareness. Given that he frequently drifts into that area anyway and with Gaspar’s preference for a wider right-back, permanently transitioning Patino to midfield could leverage his strengths.
Nonetheless, competition exists, with Thomas Partey being the primary choice and Fabio Vieira as his backup. Yet, considering Vieira’s age, Patino may have opportunities to potentially take over in the future.
His potential to evolve into a world-class central midfielder is evident. However, Patino’s physical attributes might not perfectly match what Arteta typically seeks in his right-sided midfielder.
Since shifting to a 4-3-3 setup, Arteta has favored Granit Xhaka on the left of the midfield trio. He was succeeded by Rice and Merino, all of whom are expected to make quick decisions, impose physically, and contribute to winning aerial duels and pushing into scoring zones.
Patino is unlike those players; he is best utilized with the ball, similar to Martin Odegaard, and akin to numerous players Arteta has positioned at right-back over recent times.
Therefore, Patino’s transition to midfield hinges not just on his own advancement but also on Arteta’s strategic vision. Will the Gunners’ manager refine his plans to potentially deploy Patino alongside Ethan Nwaneri in midfield, or is Patino destined to remain a right-back?
