Arsenal: Sensational Serge Gnabry Return Merely Slim Hopes

Serge Gnabry has left the door open on a return to Arsenal in the summer. However, such rumours are merely unattainable, ambitious, slim hopes.

The development of young and talented players is a turbulent and tempestuous trial. There are those with great hopes, great aspirations that never deliver on such lofty expectations. There are those that enjoy a highly unlikely but equally meteoric rise through the ranks. And there are those who desert their parent club for greener pastures on the other side. Arsenal have enjoyed and suffered from all three.

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With Arsene Wenger’s penchant for prioritising youthful exuberance over experienced, but often limited, veterans, it is no surprise that Gooners get to watch the rise and fall of many young prospects. In recent seasons, the likes of Alex Iwobi and Hector Bellerin have broken into the first team with great success.

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Meanwhile, though, Serge Gnabry, another who much was hoped of, continued to stall contract talks to the extent that he forced a move to Werder Bremen in the summer. Having enjoyed a fabulous Olympics campaign with the German national side, after a disappointing loan deal with West Brom before, it was hoped that he would return to the Emirates and, like Iwobi and Bellerin subsequent to him, break into the first team on a regular and successful basis.

That was not the case. Germany he returned to and Arsenal fans could only watch on as he proceeded to score seven goals in 15 league games, adding an assist to his name also. That is impressive and has led to many fans, myself included, yearning for a return to North London. Well, it may well be possible. This is what Gnabry had to say about his still relatively uncertain but prosperous future:

"“As of today, I do not intend to change in the summer. But what happens in the future depends on my performance. What if Chelsea or Arsenal come knocking? Well, at the moment I’m trying to give everything to Werder.”"

Amid such comments, rumours have begun circling that Gnabry could make a sensational return. However, while it is a lovely sentiment, a lovely signing to dream, it is nothing more than a very slim hope.

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Gnabry is an extremely talented player and it was a great shame to lose him – it was not anyone’s fault exactly given his desire to find regular playing time elsewhere. Welcoming him back would be an incredible turn around, and an excellent one for Arsenal themselves, but it is simply not going to happen any time soon.