Tony Pulis reveals reason for Serge Gnabry decline

Tony Pulis has discussed Arsenal’s on-loan starlet Serge Gnabry, and insists injuries are to blame for the 20-year-old’s struggle to make an impact with West Bromwich Albion according to this report in the Birmingham Mail.

Gnabry joined the Baggies during the summer, however arrived at The Hawthorns carrying an injury. He consequently struggled to break into the first team, often turning out for the U21 when fit.

Arsenal are expected to recall the German youngster despite having another six months on his temporary deal with WBA (via Birmingham Mail). The Gunners are likely seeking an alternate loan move this month.

The Baggies boss believes Gnabry’s struggles have been down to injury, however interestingly Pulis has failed to confirm whether they will in fact release the Arsenal attacker.

“I’m not going to get involved in that because the clubs are still talking,” Pulis said.

“Serge has been brilliant. He’s not played as many games as he would have wanted to play.

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“But he’s been good to have around the place. He was very unfortunate because he came here injured and I think people forget that.

“Once he was fit, fitting him into that team and what we were trying to do was difficult and then he picked up another injury so he’s had a bit of a topsy turvy start. For the kid, if you speak to him, he wants to play week in week out.

“It’s very difficult to guarantee someone that week in week out.”

Pulis then launched an attack on Gnabry’s weight, insinuating the winger was overweight when linking up with WBA squad, which is in part down to his injury troubles that kept him sidelined for most of 2014.

“He picked up an injury before he came and he was a little bit weighty, a bit heavy and it took us a while to get him into that mode.”

Gnabry has found himself in a difficult situation. It seems the praise from Pulis is relatively artificial, if after all Serge has been ‘brilliant’, why has he struggled to even make the match day squad?

It would be best for the Germany U21 star to find himself a new club for the remainder of the campaign, and a side like Brighton would be a perfect fit for the talented youngster.

Elsewhere, Pulis also categorically denied West Brom are looking at bringing Arsenal right back Mathieu Debuchy on loan (via Birmingham Mail), who is likely to be departing this January in a bid to secure regular first team action ahead of Frances Euro 2016 campaign this summer.