Arsenal may be regretting their decision to sell striker Mika Biereth for just £4 million last summer, as the Danish forward continues his remarkable scoring form with Monaco in Ligue 1. Biereth netted his second hat-trick in two weeks during Monaco's emphatic 7-1 victory over Nantes, taking his tally to seven goals in just five league appearances.
The 22-year-old's journey to success began when he left Arsenal to join Sturm Graz permanently following a successful loan spell that saw him lift the Austrian Bundesliga title. His impressive performances, including two goals in the Champions League, caught the attention of Monaco, who secured his services for £12.5 million.
The timing of Biereth's goalscoring exploits couldn't be more frustrating for Arsenal, who are currently grappling with a significant injury crisis in their attacking department. Key players Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are sidelined until late March, while Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz have been ruled out for the remainder of the season.
The shortage of attacking options has forced manager Mikel Arteta to get creative with his team selection. With only Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling, and 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri available as established attacking options, Arteta had to deploy Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino as an improvised striker against Leicester City on Saturday.
However, Arteta's unconventional solution paid off unexpectedly. Merino, who came off the bench to replace Sterling in the front three, surprised supporters by scoring a match-winning brace. His goals, coming from a deft header and a driven first-time finish at the back post, proved crucial for the Gunners.
Looking ahead, Arteta is likely to continue with Merino as his centre-forward option when Arsenal face West Ham on Saturday, as they aim to keep pace with league leaders Liverpool. Meanwhile, Biereth will be hoping to maintain his impressive form as Monaco prepare to face Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday, where they'll need to overturn a 1-0 deficit in their round of 16 playoff tie.
