03 December 2023 , 05:45
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Serge Gnabry has become one of Europe's most talented forwards - and it's not been easy for Arsenal fans to watch him shine at Bayern Munich.
Gnabry was once a Gunner, signed from Stuttgart as a teenager and tipped for big things in north London. He had his moments, and Arsenal fans will remember his first goal away at Swansea and probably expected it to be the first of many. Instead, it was his last.
The Germany international would go on to make just 18 first-team appearances for Arsenal, before he was eventually sold to Werder Bremen, though not before a now infamous loan spell at West Bromwich Albion. A former team-mate and fellow countryman of Gnabry's in Lukas Podolski once claimed things could have been different for the Bayern star while he was still at the Emirates.
"He was unlucky and had a few injuries. He did well in training," Podolski told FourFourTwo magazine. "Off the pitch we spent a lot of time together, going for dinner. But sometimes football is like that, or you find a manager who gives you more confidence.
"Serge can shoot with both feet, and he is powerful and quick – a bit like me, only I don't have a right foot like him! I'm really pleased that he's doing well at Bayern."
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Three years on from Podolski's comments and Gnabry has gone from strength to strength at the Aliianz Arena. He has made more than 225 appearances for the German giants and netted a stunning 82 goals in the process.
In his six years on the books with the Bavarians, Gnabry has won five Bundesliga titles, two DFB-Pokals, three DFB-Supercups, one Champions League, one UEFA Supercup and one FIFA Club World Cup. He is still only 28 years of age, with plenty more to give.
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Lukas Podolski and Serge Gnabry were team-mates for club and country at one pointThe wide-forward even managed to endear himself to Arsenal fans while playing for Bayern back in 2019, when he put four past the Gunners' local rivals Tottenham during a 7-2 Champions League thrashing. Gnabry's form remains at a level where the biggest clubs in Europe are regularly linked with his signature.
However, given his current deal doesn't expire until the summer of 2026, any potential suitor will have to pay Bayern a pretty penny to even tempt them into considering a sale. Arsenal fans may be dreaming of a reunion, but given their current wide options, it's unlikely that Mikel Arteta, once a team-mate of Gnabry's, would be interested in such a move.
For the Emirates faithful, all they can realistically do is sit and ponder about what might have been had Gnabry had a bit more luck with injuries and a bit more time to make his mark.