Arsenal’s Striker Crisis Worsens as Former Forward Shines in Ligue 1 | OneFootball

Arsenal’s Striker Conundrum: Mika Biereth’s Red-Hot Form Highlights Transfer Mistake

Arsenal’s decision to sell Mika Biereth for just £4 million last summer is looking increasingly costly, highlighted by a recent report by The Mirror. The 22-year-old, who never made a first-team appearance for the Gunners, is now one of the most in-form strikers in Europe. After excelling on loan spells at RKC Waalwijk, Motherwell, and Sturm Graz, Biereth’s permanent move to the Austrian side seemed like a footnote in Arsenal’s transfer business. Yet, in just 16 Bundesliga games, he bagged 11 goals, catching the attention of Monaco.

The Ligue 1 club moved swiftly in January, sealing a €13m (£10.7m) deal, and the young striker has since been prolific—scoring 10 goals in seven league games, including three hat-tricks. His latest first-half treble against Reims only underlines his immense potential, making Arsenal’s decision to cash in on him look increasingly questionable.

Photo IMAGO

A Crisis Up Front for Arteta

Arsenal’s attacking struggles have been exacerbated by injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, both suffering season-ending setbacks. Without a recognised senior striker, Mikel Arteta has had to rely on makeshift options. Leandro Trossard and Mikel Merino have stepped in, but the results have been disappointing. A goalless draw against Nottingham Forest and a stuttering attack have left the Gunners’ title challenge hanging by a thread.

Photo: IMAGO

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, as 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.

Our View – EPL Index: Concerned Arsenal Fans Left Frustrated

For Arsenal fans, this is a scenario that’s 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.

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.