Serge Gnabry credits Arsenal after impressing during Germany debut against San Marino

Serge Gnabry has credited Arsenal for his impressive performances in recent months, which saw him called up to the Germany national team for their recent games against San Marino and Italy during the ongoing international break. The midfielder scored a hat-trick on debut for his national team, and believes he would not be the player he is if not for his experience with the Gunners.

The 21-year-old joined the north London club from his hometown club Stuttgart in 2011 and after a year with the youth team, he was promoted to the first-team. Gnabry made his Premier League debut when he was 16, as a second-half substitute against Norwich City during the 2012/13 season, and it was his only appearance that campaign. He made nine more appearances in the following campaign, but was hampered by injuries in the next two seasons which saw him make just one league appearance in the next two seasons.

He returned to full fitness in the second-half of last season, but failed to break back into the first-team. Gnabry had entered the final year of his contract with the club and was offered a new deal to remain at the Emirates, but declined a deal to move to Werder Bremen this summer on a permanent basis. He impressed for the Germany U23 side at the summer Olympic Games in Rio helping them to the silver medal, and is currently the Bremen's top scorer in the Bundesliga this season.

Joachim Low rested a few senior players for their recent international fixtures and Gnabry's impressive form for club and country got him a call up. He made an instant impression against San Marino, and is likely to feature again when they play Italy in a friendly on Tuesday. The former Arsenal midfielder's current club trolled the Gunners following his impressive debut, but he has made it clear that his spell in north London has played a major role in his football development thus far.

"Without being in England, I would not be the player I am now. There was Arsenal's quick playing style, for example, which I learned," Gnabry said, as quoted by the Daily Mail.

"When you are a young player and you get to train with such top players as there are at Arsenal for three years then of course you take something away with you and it improves you.

"That was definitely the case with me. I probably would not be here now if I had not been in England," the Germany international added.