Arsenal want a striker. Not a false nine but a proper one.
And that is a scary thought indeed. Mikel Arteta’s side scored 91 goals in the 2023/24 campaign – only behind Premier League champions Manchester City – despite playing the majority of the campaign with the converted number ten Kai Havertz leading the line.
Imagine what Arsenal could be with a bonafide 30-goal a season centre-forward in their ranks, preying upon the buffet of chances served up by Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.
HITC understands that, with The Gunners open to offers for Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah, there is interest in Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus, Alexander Isak at Newcastle, and Sporting Lisbon’s 43-goal talisman Viktor Gyokeres.
Benjamin Sesko, the much-admired RB Leipzig frontman with a £55 million release clause in his contract, has also told his representatives that Arsenal is his preferred destination over Chelsea and Manchester United.
Arsenal striker Mika Biereth a massive success in Austria
All of this does not bode too well, then, for Mika Biereth‘s hopes of a first-team role under Arteta.
Now 21, has the former Fulham youngster missed the boat? Biereth is on loan at Sturm Graz in Austria after spells at RKC Waalwijk and Motherwell. But, even if his future does not lie at the Emirates, an impressive 2023/24 campaign should catch the eye of other clubs in pursuit of goalscorers.
“My overall impression of Mika is very positive,” Sturm Graz coach Christian Ilzer tells the Arsenal website. “Much of what we expected from him turned out to be true. What we saw of him beforehand, what our analysts saw and his profile.”
Biereth, swapping Scotland for Sturm in January, ended the campaign with 15 goals and nine assists in all competitions. He also helped Sturm Graz prise Red Bull Salzburg’s hands off the domestic title, winning a league and cup double at the Merkur Arena.
“He has this aggressive, powerful style of play and is ready to work without the ball,” adds Ilzer, Biereth earning comparisons with £64 million Manchester United hitman and one-time Sturm youngster Rasmus Hojlund.
“But also with the ball, he is a striker with depth and with a cool head in front of goal despite his young age. But he also has the right mindset. This killer mindset.
“In general, he has the robustness needed to be able to hold on to the ball. (Biereth_ has the energy to sprint into areas in the box. He has a good sense of where the ball might go. He has this attacking instinct. He also has a very good finishing (ability) and finishes well with the first touch.
“Technically and tactically, he has the whole package.”
Biereth wins league and cup double with Sturm Graz
Biereth is due to return to Arsenal once Sturm Graz’s season comes to an end.
Andreas Schicker, the Austrian champions’ sporting director, admitted a few months ago that he would look to extend the striker’s time at Sturm while claiming that Arsenal ‘refused’ to include an option-to-buy clause in Biereth’s loan deal.
“This is the best level I’ve played at so far,” Biereth explains. “In terms of being a part of the squad and playing every match day. The players here are really good and really talented.
“The first impressions of the club were really positive. Everyone at the club, from the players to the staff to the sporting director, everyone is really warm and welcoming.
“The most important thing is that they’re good at football as well on the pitch.”
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