Arsenal’s Striker Crisis Worsens as Former Forward Shines in Ligue 1
Arsenal’s decision to sell Mika Biereth for just £4 million last summer is looking increasingly costly, as highlighted by a recent report from The Mirror. The 22-year-old, who never made a first-team appearance for the Gunners, has become one of the most in-form strikers in Europe. After impressing during loan spells at RKC Waalwijk, Motherwell, and Sturm Graz, Biereth’s permanent move to Sturm Graz seemed like a minor detail in Arsenal’s transfer dealings. However, in just 16 Bundesliga games, he bagged 11 goals, which caught the attention of Monaco. The Ligue 1 club acted swiftly in January, securing Biereth for €13m (£10.7m). Since then, he has been nothing short of prolific, scoring 10 goals in seven league games, including three hat-tricks. His latest first-half treble against Reims further underscores his immense potential, making Arsenal’s decision to cash in on him look increasingly questionable.
A Crisis Up Front for Arteta
Arsenal’s attacking struggles have been compounded by injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, who have both suffered season-ending setbacks. Without a recognized senior striker, Mikel Arteta has had to rely on makeshift options. Leandro Trossard and Mikel Merino have stepped in, but their efforts have been disappointing. A goalless draw against Nottingham Forest and a stuttering attack have left the Gunners’ title challenge hanging by a thread. After the stalemate, Arteta was candid about the issues in the final third. “We tried and adapting the quality that we have, how we can help the team to create different things, to have threats from different qualities, probably they are not about arriving in the box and creating some magic moments, they are other kind of players,” he admitted.
What’s Next for Arsenal’s Attack?
Arsenal’s failure to address their striker situation in January may come back to haunt them. The lack of an out-and-out goal scorer has forced them to rethink their approach. Arteta noted, “We have another day or two now to think before the PSV game, all the options that we have especially against a team that is in a low block.” The possibility of promoting youth players remains on the table, but whether that will be enough to salvage their season is another question entirely. “We will think about that [using more academy players], I think we have many more options still to explore but as well, we can certainly do better with the situation that we are in,” Arteta added.
A Price Arsenal May Regret
Hindsight is a cruel judge in football. Arsenal may not have foreseen Biereth’s explosion in form, but selling a young, promising striker for such a low fee, without a buy-back clause or a sell-on percentage, could be costly. With the Premier League title slipping away, fans will be left wondering what might have been had they kept faith in Biereth. His rapid rise to stardom in one of Europe’s top leagues is a stark reminder of the potential talent Arsenal let slip through their fingers.
Concerned Arsenal Fans Left Frustrated
For Arsenal fans, this is a scenario that has become all too familiar. A young striker, deemed surplus to requirements, is let go for a fraction of his potential worth, only to flourish elsewhere. Mika Biereth’s remarkable form at Monaco makes Arsenal’s decision seem short-sighted, particularly with their current injury crisis up front. The frustration isn’t just about losing a talent—it’s about failing to anticipate squad needs. Arsenal’s reluctance to sign a proven striker in January now feels like a major miscalculation. Arteta’s side still boasts creative midfielders and wingers, but without a focal point in attack, their build-up play lacks end product.
A Missed Opportunity
The idea of promoting an academy prospect to fill the void might appeal to the romantics, but in reality, the Premier League’s intensity demands more. Biereth is proving himself in one of Europe’s top five leagues, and Arsenal fans have every right to ask why he wasn’t given a chance at the Emirates before being moved on so quickly. If he continues this trajectory, his name will join the list of painful “what if” moments in Arsenal’s transfer history. The club’s current predicament serves as a stark reminder of the importance of nurturing young talent and the potential long-term consequences of hasty decisions.
