Serge Gnabry said that his heart wanted to stay with Arsenal, but he felt it was the logical decision to leave and return to his home country of Germany.

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 25: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger talks with player Serge Gnabry during a training session at London Colney on November 25, 2013 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 25: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger talks with player Serge Gnabry during a training session at London Colney on November 25, 2013, in St Albans, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Though Gnabry has now played for four different clubs since he last started a game for Arsenal, he was back in the headlines in England after smashing four past Spurs and then again when he helped Bayern get rid of Lyon in the Champions League semi-final.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 01: Serge Gnabry of FC Bayern Munich celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the UEFA Champions League group B match between Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Muenchen at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 01, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 01: Serge Gnabry of FC Bayern Munich celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the UEFA Champions League group B match between Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Muenchen at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 01, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

The player himself spoke to the media in 2019 to confirm it was his decision to leave, in the end, but he felt it was one he had to make to play regularly.

“In my heart, I wanted to stay,” Gnabry told ESPN.

“I always believed that I had what it takes to play for Arsenal, but these things are not always down to you. It was a tough decision [to return to Germany] but it was a logical one. I needed to play to get ahead.”

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)

It’s a shame he felt that way, as there are plenty of examples of players who have come through the academy and received consistent first-team chances with Arsenal.

Hector Bellerin, Bukayo Saka, Joe Willock, Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles all made themselves first-team regulars after initially playing in the youth teams, and those are only the ones in the current squad.

There’s no doubt Gnabry would’ve been playing every week if he’d still been around. Obviously.

Gnabry was just 16-years-old when he left Stuttgart’s academy to join Arsenal.

The German winger excited many during his time in our youth teams, and eventually earned a call-up to the senior squad. He made 18 first team appearances for the club and looked a highly promising talent.

serge gnabry 2

Unfortunately, a lengthy knee injury that nobody ever speaks of and a terrible loan spell at West Brom curtailed his progress.

He left the club for Werder Bremen in 2016, and did so well he was signed by Bayern Munich a year later although there were reports that the initial move was funded by Bayern in the first place, a charge the Germans denied despite the fact they signed Gnabry 12 months later as the rumours reported they would. Both Arsene Wenger and the German media claimed Bayern were behind the move.

Looking back on his time at Arsenal, Gnabry explained that he couldn’t pass up the chance when it came along.

“I was 16 and remember that when I received an offer from Arsenal, I couldn’t believe it,” he said, as reported by Fichajes.

“I had no doubt because it’s an ideal scenario for any young player who wants to make a name for himself and work with a coach who relies so much on the youth team.”

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Hector Bellerin and Serge Gnabry with Arsenal

Despite not being able to nail down a place in the Arsenal first team, the 25-year-old is still very complimentary of Arsene Wenger.

“He’s one of the best coaches in the world and has a vision for great talent. I was fortunate to work under him,” he said before Wenger left Arsenal.

“He’s a wonderful coach. There are many people who support him because they know he always looks for the best for Arsenal.”

Gnabry is certainly one that got away from us and Wenger knows it.

LISBON, PORTUGAL - AUGUST 19: Serge Gnabry of Bayern Munich interacts with Hans-Dieter Flick, Head Coach of Bayern Munich after being substituted off during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final match between Olympique Lyonnais and Bayern Munich at Estadio Jose Alvalade on August 19, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Franck Fife/Pool via Getty Images)
LISBON, PORTUGAL – AUGUST 19: Serge Gnabry of Bayern Munich interacts with Hans-Dieter Flick, Head Coach of Bayern Munich after being substituted off during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final match between Olympique Lyonnais and Bayern Munich at Estadio Jose Alvalade on August 19, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Franck Fife/Pool via Getty Images)

“Let’s not forget Gnabry, I bought him at the age of 15 from Stuttgart and he was injured a lot,” Wenger told beIN SPORTS after Bayern beat Lyon in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday evening.

“He’s creative, he can score goals, right-footed, left-footed, good power, good penetration, very, very clever with the timing of his runs. His tendency was a bit too easy, like I told you about with young, talented players.

“But he has matured a lot and he is one of the dominant players now in Germany.”