Arsenal set to make contract decision to avoid losing "outstanding" youngster

Arsenal are reportedly poised to activate a two-year option in Charlie Patino's contract to avoid losing the highly-rated youngster at the end of the season.

Patino, 19, is rated as one of the club's top young prospects and has already made a big impression on Gunners fans after netting on his senior debut against Sunderland last December.

Mikel Arteta made the decision to send Patino out on loan in the summer and the midfield maestro is currently thriving on loan in the Championship with Blackpool.

Tangerines boss Michael Appleton has already branded the exciting youngster as "outstanding" - but while Patino has made waves in the second-tier, the youngster is actually due to become a free agent in the summer when his current deal at the Emirates expires.

With this in mind, The Athletic are reporting that Arsenal are 'expected' to activate a two-year option in Patino's deal that would ensure the midfield prodigy remains in north London.

While it remains to be seen if the club are planning to open talks with Patino over a whole new agreement in the future, the two-year option would give them plenty of time to thrash out new terms with the Gunners academy graduate.

Arteta has already waxed lyrical about Patino after his "beautiful" debut against Sunderland in the Carabao Cup 12 months ago.

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Patino has racked up two goals and two assists in 17 appearances in a struggling Blackpool side. The Tangerines are currently in the Championship relegation zone, but that hasn't stopped Patino from making a significant impression by the seaside.

After recovering from an injury setback, Patino scored on his first start against Millwall back in September. The youngster has gone on to start every one of the 12 Championship games Blackpool have played since that defeat at the Den - and he has has come in for praise on more than occasion.

Speaking after Patino impressed against Sunderland back in October, Appleton purred: "I said when he came to the club he's as good as anything I've seen dealing with the ball and with good movement of the ball as you've seen tonight he can play as a six, can play as a ten, can play as an eight.

"He's got a really, really good future ahead of him... I thought he was outstanding tonight, especially in that second half. He controlled the game, it was his game, he played at his tempo when he wanted to speed it up he sped it up, when he wanted to slow it down he slowed it down, when he wanted to switch the play he did it. It was a very mature performance from a very young lad."