Arsenal set to promote academy starlet Charlie Patino, 17, to first-team amid Barcelona transfer interest

CHARLIE PATINO is set to get promoted to Arsenal's first-team amid interest from LaLiga giants Barcelona, reports say.

Mikel Arteta is ready to hand the 17-year-old midfielder a first team place.

That is according to the Mirror, who are reporting that Patino has impressed his senior team-mates in first-team training.

Patino is believed to be a bigger prospect than Jack Wilshere, who also came through the ranks at Arsenal.

And his performances for both Arsenal and England at youth level has drawn attention from across Europe.

Barca are the most high profile club tracking Patino's progress.

But Football.London are reporting that the Gunners have no intention of selling Patino and they are ready to offer him a new contract.

And the youngster could get his chance next week in the Carabao Cup as Arsenal face League One side AFC Wimbledon at the Emirates.

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Brian Stapleton - who scouted Patino whilst he was playing for Luton Town - says he's the best youngster he's seen.

And believes Arsenal should take inspiration from Manchester City on how well they nurtured the meteoric rise of Phil Foden.

Stapleton told Goal: "Of all the years I’ve been scouting, he’s the best kid I’ve ever seen.

“I got a tip off about Charlie from a guy, so I went over there and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

"He was 11 and I think he was playing in the Under-13s, and I was like ‘wow’.

“His first touch was unbelievable, his vision, his awareness of space. He was way above his years, he was on another planet to anyone else on the pitch.

“I made a phone call to my head of my department at Arsenal at the time, Sean O’Connor.

“Sean O’Connor discovered Jack Wilshere and he said to me that Charlie is the best player who has ever walked through the doors at Hale End.”

He added: “There is a pathway that Arsenal have got for him and he’s probably going down the same pathway as Phil Foden at Manchester City.”

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