Mertesacker used to scream at Gnabry to ‘be humble’ at Arsenal as Bayern star thanks ‘friendly Schwarzenegger’ for help
FORMER Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker used to scream at former Gunners team-mate and Bayern Munich star Serge Gnabry to "be humble".
Gnabry praised Mertesacker for his influence at the beginning of his career and even referred to his compatriot as a "friendly Schwarzenegger".
Mertesacker was a towering presence at the heart of the North London club's defence as Gnabry was making his way into the first team.
But the 24-year-old winger suggested the tough love given to him by the big German was key for his development.
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He told the Players' Tribune: "He used to always be so hard on me, but in a really good way. He was like an older brother for me at Arsenal.
"Per is the nicest guy in the world. But he's also the most German guy in the world.
"Like everything he says, it's so intense. Like he's so tall, and he's looking down at you trying to be intimidating but it's also kind of friendly.
"I don't know if there's an English word for it. Imagine like a really friendly Arnold Schwarzenegger or something. That's Per.
"No matter what I did in training, he would come up to me afterwards and start yelling, like: "Serge, remember where you come from! You are from Stuttgart! Humility, humility, humility! Serge, you think you're good now, huh? You must be humble! Humility!"
Gnabry made his Gunners debut in 2012 and by the 2013-14 season was a regular fixture in Arsene Wenger's side.
It was a meteoric rise for the wide man and playing alongside one player in particular made Mertesacker's advice all the more important for his younger German colleague.
Gnabry added: "One day, you're watching Mesut Ozil on TV with your mates, and he's your idol. Then two years later, you're having a coffee with him.
"You were watching him in awe, assisting Cristiano Ronaldo in El Clasico. And then he's right in front of you, asking you how you're doing.
"It's surreal. It's hard to not change, to be honest. It's hard to remember who you are."
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Clearly the advice Mertesacker dished out to the young Gnabry has worked as he has gone on to hit new heights since leaving the Emirates behind.
He spent one season at Werder Bremen after leaving Arsenal in 2016 before Bayern Munich swooped for him and it is in Bavaria where he has become a household name.
Most notably Gnabry scored four goals on his return to North London as Bayern hammered Arsenal's arch rivals Spurs 7-2 in the Champions League back in October.