Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski may be the Germans currently on the minds and in the hearts of Arsenal fans, as is the ever-green legend and Invincible that is Jens Lehmann, but there are two more coming up through the Academy who might yet be the stars for a future generation of Gunners.
Serge Gnabry (with a Silent G) has had quite the month making his PL debut for the first team in the Capital One Cup game versus Coventry City. Though Arsenal was already cruising to a comfortable win before he came on as a sub, he did impress with his brief cameo. Similarly his substitution was the only bright spot in an otherwise shambolic performance at Carrow Road last weekend. There is a long way ahead for the 17year old half-German, half-Ivorian youngster from the youth team at VfB Stuttgart, but his raw talent is undeniable. A natural winger who is also comfortable playing in the middle right behind the strikers, Gnabry looks strong, very pacy (he had to make a choice between athletics and football as a kid) with good ball-control and direct play. He isn’t afraid to shoot, nor does he hesitate in taking on players or cutting inside by changing pace or direction. He has scored 6 goals in 8 games for the Arsenal Under-18s which led to a call up to the Reserves squad.
These are impressive attributes and while he is vastly inexperienced (it showed when he lost the ball in the lead-up to Schalke’s 2nd goal at the Emirates recently), there is a more than decent chance of him breaking into the first team sooner rather than later. However he will have to work hard, improve and learn what he must to be a genuine contender than simply a perennial exciting prospect, especially with the current competition for places in Arsenal’s midfield. He does resemble a certain Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain which is only a good thing, and he is also being touted as a potential replacement if Theo Walcott doesn’t ‘sign da ting’. I have no doubt about Gnabry’s talent but being a regular top-tier player needs much more than that. With Wenger determined to give him the required first-team experience this season, it’s the best chance he has to prove his worth.
