Ex-Arsenal star Serge Gnabry joins Hoffenheim on season-long loan from Bayern Munich
German whizkid puts poor Premier League stint behind him by chasing more vital first-team exposure in his homeland
FORMER Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry has joined Hoffenheim on loan for 2017/18.
Gnabry, 22, was a trainee at the Emirates but only made nine first-team starts for the Gunners.
There were two more on loan at West Bromwich before a £5million move to Werder Bremen last summer.
Last month, after 23 starts and a healthy return of 11 goals, the German joined Bayern Munich for £7million.
Gnabry signed a three-year deal with Bayern but has been loaned out to gain even more first-team experience.
It's been quite a year for the youngster, who bagged a hat-trick on his debut for Germany against San Marino last November.
Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in a club statement: "It was Serge's expressed wish to spend another year on loan in order to gain more match practice.
"In my opinion, that's guaranteed at Hoffenheim - at a high level, too.
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"Gnabry will return to Bayern after a year. In the name of Bayern, I wish Serge Gnabry all the best in Hoffenheim and also thank TSG for the serious and constructive talks which led to this agreement."
There was speculation last summer when Gnabry left Arsenal for Bremen that Bayern were involved in the deal.
He had initially been expected to join Bayern before being loaned out to Bremen for the 2016-17 season.
On joining the German champions, Gnabry said: "It is a great honour to be part of FC Bayern.
"Before me lies an exciting time, which I am very much looking forward to."
Gnabry initially shot through the Arsenal system and by the age of 18, he had already scored his first goal for the Gunners.
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He made his burst into the first team in the second half of 2014/15 and had everyone excited about his future.
But then he blew out his knee. It was such a serious injury that it kept him out for the entire following season and when he returned, you could say that Arsene Wenger just wasn’t sure what to do with him.
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He was sent on a terrible loan to West Brom, where he sat and watched the Baggies’ reserves.
Then he came home and did the same with Arsenal before Wenger cashed in on him.