Arsenal have won the race to sign 11-year-old Luton Town wonderkid Charlie Patino.

The Gunners, along with Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City all made offers for the young talent.

But Patino, who is a season ticket holder with his father Juliano at Kenilworth Road, has opted to join Arsenal.

Arsenal have beaten off competition from their Premier League rivals to sign Luton Town's Charlie Patino

Arsene Wenger's side have agreed to pay Luton the required £10,000 compensation to the League Two team to sign one of the game's brightest young talents.

Chelsea had offered Luton double for Patino, but he wants to train with the team closest to his home in St Albans.

Manchester City made a late attempt to sign him, but after discussions with his family the young midfielder will start his career at Arsenal next season.

Arsene Wenger will continue his policy of developing young English talent with the signing of Patino

Arsenal are making huge improvements to their Hale End academy complex as part of a strategy to compete with the other top clubs in the Barclays Premier League.

The club believe they have fallen behind big spending Chelsea in recent times and Tottenham have also started a massive recruitment drive at the lower age group.

Patino's move to Arsenal will also call in to question the ability of the top clubs to pick off and poach young players so easily.