“Remember the name Serge Gnabry”, says the official Arsenal site’s player review of the one-time German wonderkid’s 2011-12 season, who ended up collecting 10 Premier League appearances before leaving due to lack of opportunities (including a failed loan at West Bromwich Albion) last summer. Sound familiar?
In a further familiar twist, it turns out Gnabry’s probably a pretty good player, as he’s showing this season with Werder Bremen, who paid a paltry £5m for him six months ago. And while he claims his mind is focused on his current club and their attempts to stave off relegation (they’re just three points clear at the moment), he’s also not ruling out anything for the upcoming summer.
"For my future, I've decided to focus on how I play now and today. That's why I'm trying to concentrate on the now. As of today, I do not intend to change in the summer. But what happens in the future depends on my performance."
"What if Chelsea or Arsenal come knocking? Well, at the moment I'm trying to give everything to Werder."
-Serge Gnabry; source: Bild via London Evening Standard
Gnabry has 7 goals in 15 appearances in the Bundesliga so far, having had a late start to the season thanks to playing a starring role in Germany’s silver medal-winning Olympic team (he and teammate Nils Petersen were joint-top scorers).
He could be an interesting name to keep an eye on as the summer approaches, if for nothing else than to spite the Gunners.