Arsenal look set to welcome back one of their loan stars in January, after Tony Pulis admitted that Serge Gnabry was “not at the right level”.
The 20-year-old joined West Brom earlier on in the campaign in order to find some regular playing time in the Premier League whilst getting used to first team football.
However, despite the best intentions of the Germany international, it seems things haven’t gone to plan at The Hawthorns after making just two appearances for the club this season.
And after being quoted in The Express today, the Baggies manager has confirmed exactly why the winger has been short of making the starting eleven selection every weekend.
Serge has come here to play games but he just hasn’t been for me, at the moment, at the level to play games.
He’s come from academy football and not played much league football. Does academy football really prepare players for league football? And we’re talking about Premier League football here.
As a manager you pick a team that’s going to win a game of football. You pick your best team, you don’t leave people out because you don’t like them, because of this, that and the other.
Gnabry has suffered a series of setbacks following a lucrative youth career, and after recovering from a 15 month injury has not had the welcome back to football he would have wished for.
The attacking midfielder has come into discussion with Arsenal fans recently, following the hamstring injury to Aaron Ramsey and other setbacks in the squad.
Arsene Wenger is expected to announce a vast amount of changes to tonight’s Sheffield Wednesday clash, and Gnabry would’ve been perfect out on the wing to cover Oxlade-Chamberlain.
For now though, it seems Gnabry must learn his lesson and push on for a starting place in Pulis’ side, with his loan deal set to expire in early January.
At such a young age however, we have to take caution with players like Gnabry and Wenger will know how to treat the player when he does arrive back at the Emirates later this season.
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