Former Arsenal prospect Serge Gnabry has credited the influence of Arsene Wenger and 'top players' at the Emirates after the 21-year-old struck a hat-trick for Germany on Friday night.
Gnabry was considered one of the most exciting talents at Arsenal but left the club for regular first-team opportunities at Werder Bremen after impressing at the Rio Olympics. Now, the midfielder has soared to prominence after netting an impressive treble on his first international call-up for Germany against San Marino.
Following the result, Gnabry was quick to point out the education he received during his time in North London, claiming it has been instrumental to his improvement as a footballer.
Serge Gnabry: "I didn't expect to score three goals on my debut. I was fed very well. The coach told me to just play my game." pic.twitter.com/ODi09tNVHO
"Without being in England, I would not be the player I am now," he told RND radio. "There was Arsenal's quick playing style, for example, which I learned.
"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."
Arsene Wenger had faith in Serge Gnabry. Unfortunately for Arsenal, he didn't repay their loyalty. https://t.co/tyiCGMf0IP pic.twitter.com/krmQDYnSm2
Gnabry has impressed in the Bundesliga this season for Bremen, scoring four times, but was afraid his call-up to the national squad was some kind of cruel radio joke.
"The coach called me and I had to consider for a while whether it was real or not," he added.
"There have been a lot of these fake calls on the radio and I just didn't want to be the next victim!"
After his goalscoring exploits against the minnows, Gnabry is expected to feature against Italy at the San Siro on Tuesday night.