Fans were quick to voice their concerns over the fresh Charlie Patino transfer news. Reputable David Ornstein has stated that Patino will look for a new club in the summer as he doesn’t want another loan if he can’t get a first-team chance.
🚨 EXCL: Charlie Patino set to leave Arsenal permanently this summer. 19yo wants regular 1st team action; unlikely for now + prefers not to exit #AFC on loan again. Club receptive & ready to help facilitate, as interest builds from UK/abroad @TheAthleticFC
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) May 1, 2023
In terms of outgoings, the news has given us some idea of what to expect from Arsenal this summer. Folarin Balogun is in the same situation where he doesn’t want another loan and yet there’s no place for him in the first team. With plenty of suitors lined up following his stellar Ligue 1 campaign, he’s another candidate for a big sale.
We can get a sense of what Arsenal is trying to accomplish this summer. Smith-Rowe hasn’t been getting nearly as much minutes as he would have hoped for and Nketiah has been left in the shadow of Leandro Trossard little by little.
You cannot fault their talent for anything but the time where Arsenal have an abundance of places in the eleven for youngsters is gone. A spine of the team has been formed and Arsenal are Premier League challengers while heading towards Champions League football. There will always be a place for another Martinelli/Saka/Saliba etc. but the opportunities are much more limited now. If you aren’t willing to fight for your spot, the club is more than likely to gain as much as they can for your services before it’s too late.
POINT OF VIEW
We have to be realistic and note that academy is also a place for sales. Not every talent coming out of Hale End can play for the first team, for one reason or another. If the club isn’t able to form a pathway or if THEY aren’t able to form a pathway for themselves at the club, it’s normal for Arsenal to sell while the value is high. Iwobi and Willock both went when the price was high despite both parties knowing the value will be much greater in a few years. But that’s business.
Arsenal are also set to release Ainsley Maitland-Niles while refusing to sell him at his “peak” leading to two loans away from the club and the interest in his services vanishing. Arsenal apparently refused an offer worth up to £20m in 2020. So there’s that…
That’s what big clubs are destined for with young promising talent.
Arsenal are set to enjoy a reward of around £70m-£80m with their return to Champions League football and could likely earn as much as that with their outgoing transfers if they play their cards right. Declan Rice is likely their #1 target and most of that transfer kitty is likely to go towards his signature. But there are other gaps to fill in the squad and they’ll have to fund those transfers by selling valuable assets without losing much first-team value in the process.
IN CONCLUSION
We’re in for a big summer as Arsenal look to “complete” their squad. We’ll have to cover all grounds if we’re looking to challenge Manchester City once again next season. That along some luck along the way should keep us high up the table competing for the number one spot once again. Champions League football is also a competition Arsenal haven’t been in for 7 years and Arteta will look to leave a strong impression and you need a big squad for that. Fun times ahead!