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'He was like a really friendly Arnold Schwarzenegger': Bayern Munich star Serge Gnabry credits tough love from 'older brother' Per Mertesacker for driving his career forward despite failing to make the grade at Arsenal

Bayern Munich star Serge Gnabry has praised the vital influence of former Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker towards the beginning of his career.

The German pair played together in north London for three seasons between 2011 and 2016, when Mertesacker was a regular starter for the Gunners and Gnabry was breaking through to the first-team.

Gnabry left Arsenal in 2016 to head back to Germany and is now one of the most exciting attacking players in Europe today, having scored 31 goals in his last 75 appearances in all competitions for Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.