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Arsenal star Mesut Ozil recommended Serge Gnabry for Germany call-up five years ago


The then teenager was impressing in training despite a lack of first-team outings (Picture: Getty)

Germany boss Joachim Low has revealed that Mesut Ozil recommended Serge Gnabry be called up to the national team five years ago, despite not having broken into the Arsenal team yet.

The winger is emerging as one of the most exciting attackers in Europe, having shone for Bayern Munich since leaving Werder Bremen – notably scoring four times against Tottenham in the Champions League.

He was on the score sheet again in Germany’s 2-2 draw with Argentina last time out, and Low says Gnabry has long been seen as a player with international pedigree.

Gnabry was on target against Argentina and will likely start against Estonia (Picture: Getty)

‘I actually wanted to take Serge to the World Cup in 2014 when he was 18,’ revealed the Germany boss ahead of Sunday’s Euro 2020 qualifier with Estonia.

‘Per Mertesacker and Mesut Ozil told me that he was crazy in training and that he had a lot of pace. But then he suffered an injury.’

He continued: ‘He has excellent qualifications to play at the highest level and that must be supported and he has shown he deserves to be on the pitch when fit.’

Despite looking impressive in training with Arsenal, Gnabry was sold to Bremen for just £5million and then manager Arsene Wenger says he never wanted to let the German leave.

‘We tried to extend his contract for a very long time and I think that Bayern manipulated behind the scenes, that if he went to Bremen he would join Bayern after,’ Wenger told beIN Sports.

Ozil and Gnabry struck up a good relationship during their time at Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

‘He was always a very talented boy who lacked confidence in some stages, but we always thought we had a player who could achieve a lot.

‘He came back from a very bad experience on loan at West Brom where his confidence was destroyed. I tried to rebuild him because I believed in him.’





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