Serge Gnabry has previously suggested that his stint as an Arsenal player was key to his career amid rumours of a potential Emirates return.
The German began his career with the north London outfit, going on to make 18 appearances for the Gunners and scoring a solitary goal.
A disappointing loan move to West Bromwich Albion was followed by a move to Bundesliga outfit Werder Bremen and he thrived back in his home country with 11 goals in his first season.
That caught the eye of German giants Bayern Munich, who swooped for his services. Since then, Gnabry has gone on to become one of the most consistent wingers in Europe having hit doubles for goals in each of the last six campaigns.
However, with Bayern having not yet come to an agreement to extend his current contract, it has been suggested that he could be set to leave the Allianz Arena. The Sun suggest that Arsenal could be one of the clubs who would be willing to make a move for the 26-year-old, who is now valued at £63m by transfermarkt.
Amid those rumours, Gnabry has previously praised his prior stint with the Gunners as pivotal in his career progression.
Speaking to the Evening Standard back in 2016, he said: “Without being in England, I would not be the player I am now. 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 [at Bayern Munich] if I had not been in England.”
Since joining Bayern Munich, Gnabry has gone on to make 155 appearances for the club, netting 59 goals and providing 38 assists, winning three Bundesliga titles and the Champions League in the process.
He has also gone on to earn 31 caps for the German national side and has found some prolific form for Die Manschaaft with 20 goals.