Serge Gnabry hopes to play regular first-team football after leaving Arsenal for Werder Bremen

Serge Gnabry has revealed his move from Arsenal to Werder Bremen was motivated by a desire to play more first-team football. The 21-year-old midfielder has joined the Bundesliga club for £5m ($6.5m) and has spoken of his determination to progress as a player at the Weserstadion.

The ex-Arsenal man has also revealed that two of his former clubmates, Per Mertesacker and Mesut Ozil, recommended the move to him, having both previously played for Bremen.

"I'm very happy to be here," Gnabry said of his move, according to The Mirror. "Per Mertesacker and Mesut Ozil have only said positive things about the club. I had very good talks with the management and that has led me here to Werder and the Bundesliga."

Gnabry was one of Germany's brightest sparks during their impressive run at the Olympics in Rio, where they won the silver medal. However, his path to the first-team at Arsenal was blocked by the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Ozil.

Gnabry — who joined Arsenal in 2012 — explained he decided to leave the club in order to play regular football. "The Olympics were a personal highlight for me and I'd like to carry on my development here at Werder. I've come to Bremen to get playing time, to develop further and to help the team," he declared.

Gnabry's return to Germany came after Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger recently revealed his desire to keep him at the club. Wenger claimed the Gunners still had faith in the midfielder despite his disappointing loan spell at West Brom and were determined to see him flourish at the Emirates Stadium.

"I want to keep Serge Gnabry and extend his contract," Wenger previously stated, according to the Daily Mail. "I think we stood by him. He went to West Brom, didn't play, we had to rebuild his confidence. I allowed him to go to the Olympics to help Germany. I think he's here now for a long time."