The 22nd December 2021 happened to be "the best day" in Arsenal youngster Charlie Patino's life.

Why? Well, the now 19-year-old played for the Gunners senior team for the first time and in the process, rolled home his first goal during a League Cup clash with Sunderland.

It wasn't quite a coming-of-age story just yet for Patino, but it was a fine glimpse at a player who Mick McCarthy recently suggested would be "very good" in the future.

There has been a great deal of hype surrounding the teenager since his emergence as a genuine star from Arsenal's Hale End youth factory, with comparisons being made to the likes of Jack Wilshere and Cesc Fabregas.

The youngster has some way to go before he reaches those dizzy heights but there is a feeling within Arsenal that he is now ready to explode at a higher level.

How is Patino doing this season?

This term has been a crucial one in the development of the eye-catching midfielder who was sent out on loan in search of earning precious first-team minutes.

With the pairing of Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka seeming immovable, Patino was never going to earn a place under Mikel Arteta this term but thanks to his displays at Blackpool, he could become a genuine option at the Emirates Stadium.

The goal for the teen this term was to play around 15 matches, admitted new Tangerines boss, McCarthy. However, he has surpassed everyone's expectations to feature 28 times in all competitions so far.

Along the way, he has found the net three times, including a strike against Premier League Southampton in the FA Cup, as well as supplying two assists.

There is a lot more to come from an offensive point of view in the coming years but it's a promising start for someone who has taken to Championship football like a duck to water.

Dubbed a "special talent" by Phil Smith of the Sunderland Echo, it hasn't all been plain sailing however, with the Blackpool loanee also being given a red card in the defeat to Swansea City last month.

That will serve as a learning curve and is precisely why Arteta didn't deem him ready for a first-team spot at the beginning of the campaign.

Patino is a wonderfully gifted player from a technical point of view but as a young individual, there will be that inexperience and sometimes the occasional bout of ill-discipline.

At Bloomfield Road, it is down to the 6-foot talent to get that out of his system before truly bursting onto the scene next season.

Will Patino get a chance before Balogun?

All of the hype of late has been about another young Arsenal talent out on loan; Folarin Balogun.

The England U21 international has been one of the most talked about forwards in European football of late, with his 15 goals in 23 outings for Reims in Ligue 1, the joint-highest tally alongside Kylian Mbappe in the entire division.

A player of ruthless and clinical nature in front of goal, a spot for the American-born forward next season could be tricky.

With Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah in front of him for a lone place leading the attack, a loan spell may well be forthcoming.

However, for Patino, there are two spots he could occupy in Arteta's starting XI. Either as the sitting midfielder - Partey's role - or as the more advanced number 8 - Xhaka's role.

There has, of course, been talk of a move for Declan Rice, but even if the West Ham captain arrives in the summer, there is space for someone of Patino's ilk to still make an impression.

After such an impressive time out on loan, it would be foolish to ignore him. He has all the qualities to explode in the top flight throughout 2023/24.