He was consistently good for Arsenal reserves - played as a secondary striker and RW as was immediately promoted.
He was chubby but it’s genetics - he still has a chubby face; looks a lot more lean but thats due to his growth.
He suffered 2 injuries - did well v Swansea then Arsenal struggled as a team and Wenger bottled using any youngsters unless we were 3-0 up, with 10 mins left for the match to finish. No true faith was shown in Gnabry. Even Vela did well in a 4-4-2, but was demoted to LW when we adopted the 4-3-3. All down to poor management; Gazidis era from Arsenal youths to contracts and selling players with no clause/ good fee or buy back option.
Instead we invested time in likes of Wilshere, Chamberlain and Walcott. Same policy should have applied to Gnabry.
Kid did nothing for years at various clubs. We shove away plenty of these and so do every other top club and occasionally they go back home and find their form.
People didn’t pay a lot for him at that time because they didn’t have to. We took care of that part by mismanaging him, preferring Ox and Theo to him (Mertesacker’s own inside take), and loaning him to Tony fucking Pulis.
The new regime or the Sanllehi era have made it clear. We’ll give time to the youth academy; indirectly saying the academy was mismanaged & it’s damn true.
The British core was heavily invested on but the management luxury they received was no were consistent to the management likes of Vela, Gnabry received.
Mertsacker about 2 months outlined how there is a new recruitment strategy when loaning out players. It makes sense now; you loan out players to club that matches the philosophy and not for the sake of game exposure - we loaned out a technical pacey winger to Pulis you know lol.
At least now we have strategies in place when loaning our youngsters but fuck Gnabry will be a lesson learnt.
Tbf I thought he had an even bigger potential than what he’s doing atm, looking back at his performances in 2013/14… especially that cup game agaist tottenham that season where he dominated them.
incredible haha
