Arsene Wenger clearly believes strongly in the potential of Serge Gnabry after speaking in glowing terms about the ability of the teenage winger.

Gnabry was handed his Arsenal debut in the 6-1 win over Coventry in the Capital One Cup, before then being handed the chance to impress in the Premier League against Norwich, and in the Champions League game against Schalke.

Serge Gnabry
Gnabry has quickly risen through the ranks at Arsenal and has already made his Champions League debut [NextGen]

Despite being just 17-years-old, Wenger believes the winger is ready to play in a number of positions and could even be used as a striker in the future.

"He is a guy who can play in all the offensive positions," Wenger told the official Arsenal website. "I think he could even play centre forward. He has a kind of efficiency in his game, and can get on the end of things.

"He has big potential, creative potential, finishing potential. Serge is 17-years-old and strong for a boy of that age.

"It is difficult to compare with anyone. He is not small, he is stocky with good body balance. He glides, he is fluent."

With Theo Walcott yet to commit his long term future to Arsenal, there have been suggestions that Gnabry could emerge as a natural successor to the England international.

Walcott has struggled to convince Wenger that he should be used as a centre-forward, but it seems as though the French boss has no such worries about the ability of Gnabry.

The German youngster has quickly risen through the ranks after joining Arsenal in the summer of 2011 from Stuttgart.

He was a regular in the Under-18 side last season, while his record for the reserve side, two goals in his six appearances, saw him force his way into the first team plans of Wenger.