Serge Gnabry says that despite the ups and downs of his time in England with Arsenal, it was a great opportunity and he’d do it all again.

WOLFSBURG, GERMANY - MARCH 20: Serge Gnabry of Germany arrives prior to the International Friendly match between Germany and Serbia at Volkswagen Arena on March 20, 2019 in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Photo by Oliver Hardt/Bongarts/Getty Images,)
WOLFSBURG, GERMANY – MARCH 20: Serge Gnabry of Germany arrives prior to the International Friendly match between Germany and Serbia at Volkswagen Arena on March 20, 2019, in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Photo by Oliver Hardt/Bongarts/Getty Images)

In 2016, Gnabry left Arsenal for Werder Bremen, in a move that was clearly engineered by Bayern Munich. The winger ended up with Bayern a year later, and after a season on loan, he returned to win the Bundesliga club’s Player of the Season award in 2018/19.

In order to reach that stage, Gnabry had to go through some trials and tribulations. He decided to move to Arsenal at 16 and was quickly fast-tracked into the first team, before injury problems, disappointing loans and decreased game time stalled his progress.

Thankfully for the player, impressive displays at the 2016 Olympics got his career back on track. Speaking to Spox, Gnabry insists he wouldn’t change any of it.

It may have been a strange step for some, not for me. If a club like Arsenal makes 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,” Gnabry said.

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.

“[Per 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. In the youth teams, Thomas Eisfeld and Martin Angha were also present. That makes life a little easier.”

MUNICH, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 23: Serge Gnabry of FC Bayern Muenchen looks on during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and Hertha BSC at Allianz Arena on February 23, 2019 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Bongarts/Getty Images)
MUNICH, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 23: Serge Gnabry of FC Bayern Muenchen looks on during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and Hertha BSC at Allianz Arena on February 23, 2019, in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Gnabry’s success turned into a stick to beat Arsenal with in the years after his departure, despite the fact the club offered him a new deal and only sold when he refused that extension.

It’s not as if Arsene Wenger didn’t have faith in Gnabry. You don’t give a 17-year-old their Premier League debut if you don’t think they’re a big future talent. Things just didn’t work out, for reasons too lengthy to go into here.

It’s a shame, but at least the former Arsenal academy star is making a name for himself now on the big stages.