Arsenal youngster Charlie Patino is set to join Blackpool on loan.
The 18-year-old midfielder is tipped for a big future at Emirates Stadium and Arsenal believe a season in the Championship is the right move for his development.
Patino made his Arsenal debut last season when he came off the bench to score in a 5-1 win over Sunderland in the Carabao Cup in December.
He then made his first senior start in the FA Cup third-round defeat against Nottingham Forest.
Patino was part of the Arsenal squad that travelled to Germany in pre-season, and featured as a substitute against Nurnberg, but he was not included in their tour of America.
Mikel Arteta has said the plan for Patino at Arsenal is to “cook him slowly” and has decided to loan him out next season to experience senior football.
Blackpool beat Reading 1-0 on the opening weekend of the EFL season and their manager Michael Appleton believes Patino can make an impact in the Championship this season.
Should he do well this season, Patino is likely to be pushing for a first-team spot at Arsenal in 2023-24.
