Times really do seem to have changed at Arsenal, and it is certainly for the better. Last season we signed Mesut Özil, this season Alexis Sanchez, and the spending looks set to continue.
The one problem this does create though, particularly in the case of bringing in Sanchez, is what do we do with Gnabry? He has great potential and I’d love to see him get more game at Arsenal, but all we could really offer him is league cup games and the occasional league match.
He isn’t quite ready to start making regular first team appearances, especially if we hope to mount a serious title challenge this season. Even Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hasn’t fully broken in to the first team, he often comes on from the bench.
With wide men in the team including Theo Walcott, Alexis Sanchez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla (who can play both centrally, and on the left or right) a season long loan does seem to be the best option for Gnabry.
Not too long ago I wrote an article about Yaya Sanogo being in need of game time, and that loaning him to an English team would really help his game. I feel the same way about Gnabry. He is already a more complete player than Sanogo. Serge has pace, power, great composure on the ball, good vision, skill and a good shot on him. On top of that, he’s only 19 years old.
He needs experience, and with the ability he already has, I think he’d do a great job for a lower Premier League team. He could walk straight in to the West Ham team and provide them with the flair that they so desperately need. He could also become an important player for a team like Burnley, who have just been promoted.
The key is that he would be getting game time in the Premier League, as opposed to overseas. Of course, game time anywhere is much better than none at all, and judging by Joel Campbell’s World Cup performances it can be very beneficial.
Campbell though, is yet to be tested in the Premier League and that is where Gnabry would benefit the most. One season playing fairly regular football in the Premiership would set him up perfectly to stake a claim for his place in an Arsenal shirt.
Whether or not Arsène decides to loan him out is something only he knows. One thing looks certain though. Serge Gnabry, given the chance, has the potential to be a truly great player at Arsenal.