Serge Gnabry is featuring regularly for Germany and Bayern Munich now, but things weren’t easy earlier on in his career.
At the age of 16, the winger moved to England to join Arsenal’s academy in 2011 and then went on to make his first team appearance a year later.
Former Gunners manager Arsene Wenger continued to provide the wideman opportunities over the next few years, but his performance weren’t up to the mark.
In 2015, the north London club allowed him to join West Bromwich Albion on a season-long loan deal, but it was cut short due to lack of opportunities at The Hawthorns.
Following a difficult spell in England, Gnabry moved to Werder Bremen in 2016 before joining Bayern a year later. Wenger wanted to tie down the player to a new deal, but Gnabry rejected it to return to his homeland.
Spox interviewed Gnabry and asked about his time at the Emirates. He said, “It may have been an unusual step for some, but not for me.”
“If a club like Arsenal make you an offer and says it wants you in the club – with a coach like Arsene Wenger, who was known to give young players a chance – that’s a great opportunity.”
“I really wanted to take this opportunity. My time in England has shaped me, with all its ups and downs. I would do the same again.”
Gnabry also spoke about the importance of having his father during his time in London.
“Without my dad, I would not be at this point in my life I am today. There are many talents who unfortunately lack support. I had 100% support of my parents and of course, a little bit more from my father because he has dealt with football,” he explained
“It was enormously important to have him in England. You are still young, 16 years old, do not know what to expect, you are in another country, leaving your friends and family behind. It helps if you have someone to guide you.”
Gnabry also had support of his compatriots Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski and Mesut Ozil during his time at Arsenal.
“He [Mertesacker] helped me a lot, just like Poldi and Mesut. As a young player who does not speak the language fluently, it was nice to have Germans there,” the Bayern attacker concluded.
