Arsenal: Gedion Zelalem Exit Mirrors Jack Wilshere, Serge Gnabry Failings

Gedion Zelalem is nearing an Arsenal exit with Borussia Dortmund interested. Leaving would only mirror Arsene Wenger’s failings with Jack Wilshere and Serge Gnabry.

Arsene Wenger has a reputation for acquiring, growing and developing talented young players, players that result in becoming regular first team contributors either for Arsenal or other clubs around Europe. While he has enjoyed a lot of success with many players, is that notion necessarily true, especially in more recent years?

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The likes of Robin Van Persie, Kolo Toure, Ashley Cole, Cesc Fabregas and Hector Bellerin are some of the most famous examples of Wenger’s great work with young players. All have progressed into some of the best players in their position in world football.

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However, there are also a host of examples in which Wenger has not delivered on the potential that the talent suggests, or he himself claims, is there. The current squad is littered with such players, especially a British contingent. Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Calum Chambers, Carl Jenkinson. All of these have not lived up to the expectations that many had for their career at a young age. Perhaps the most famous example, though, is Jack Wilshere.

Furthermore, while there is still time for all these players to develop into what was initially expected of them, now there are players who are continuing to grow at other clubs; Serge Gnabry the most recent of these players. There is a growing trend in Wenger’s youngsters either failing to reach their potential at Arsenal or failing to reach their potential whatsoever.

All of that brings me to Gedion Zelalem. Just this summer, Wenger said of Zelalem: “I think he’s a player who has quality, top quality. I’m convinced that he’ll have a great career.” Now, it is looking as though the 19-year-old superstar is close to an exit with Borussia Dortmund sniffing around his services.

What changed?

Well, predictably, his contract expires this summer – there is a major issue here as this is seemingly a handcuff as the club continually fails in this area – and with his starting time significantly reduced seeing as he is not out on loan like previous seasons, perhaps there is a hope that a change of scenery, a new club with a new manager will ignite what has quietly become a stagnating development.

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Wenger failed to convince Gnabry to stay in North London, has failed to fulfil the potential of Wilshere, Walcott and many others and is now failing with Zelalem. Wenger is famed, renowned, heralded for his work with young players but perhaps such a stance does not hold as true as many would believe.