Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will be keen to add strength and depth to his squad in order to cope with the demands of a Europa League campaign. They finished fifth last season without the distraction of continental football and will need to significantly bolster their squad if they’re to remain in contention for a top four finish next term.
The Gunners boast a strong starting XI but that won’t be enough next season with a potential extra 13 games if they reach the Europa League final. As such the club have been linked with a host of players this summer, one such name is Bayern Munich winger Serge Gnabry.
The 26-year-old enjoyed another impressive season at Allianz Arena; scoring 17 goals and notching a further ten assists across all competitions to help Bayern win their tenth successive Bundesliga title. Gnabry spent three seasons at Arsenal between 2012-15, making just 18 appearances for the first team before being sent out on loan to West Brom after failing to establish himself in the starting XI.
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However, he rebuilt his career in Germany and has played an integral part in Bayern’s recent success. Predominantly a right winger, the German international can also play on the left and as a second striker.
Gnabry is out of contract next summer and is yet to agree to a new deal with Bayern; as such the German giants will reportedly demand around €40million (£34m) for his services. His contractual situation has seen him linked with some of Europe's leading clubs and it remains to be seen if Arsenal could entice him back to north London without Champions League football.
However, if Gnabry did return to Emirates Stadium he wouldn’t be able to have the No.7 shirt with Bukayo Saka the current incumbent. The Bayern winger was first handed the number after Franck Ribery left the club to join Fiorentina in 2019.
"I'm very happy to wear this shirt number in the future," Gnabry told Bayern’s official website.
Prior to Ribery’s departure he wore the No.22 shirt, Pablo Mari is currently in possession of this jersey, however, he has been heavily linked with a move away from the club after spending the second half of last season on loan at Udinese.
Alternatively Gnabry donned the No.29 shirt whilst at Werder Bremen and Hoffenheim and the number will be vacant once previous incumbent Matteo Guendouzi officially completes his move to Marseille this summer.
