It was something of a masterclass in centre-forward play.
In his first appearance since leaving Arsenal during the summer transfer window, the striker brilliantly bent his run to ensure he remained onside as a team-mate lined up a piercing through ball.
Then came a picture perfect first touch. The former Gunners starlet not only took the nearby centre-half out of the game with one move, he also drew the opposition goalkeeper off his line before clipping a gorgeous finish into the far corner.
If this is a sign of things to come, Mika Biereth appears to be most definitely picking up where he left off at Sturm Graz.
Arsenal sold Mika Biereth for a record-breaking sum
After a superb loan spell at the Austrian double winners – Sturm breaking Red Bull Salzburg’s stranglehold of the domestic scene – the ‘powerful and dynamic’ Biereth became the most expensive signing in the club’s 115-year history to the tune of £4 million.
Now, a late clincher in a nervy Austrian Cup win over lower-league SC Kremser will do relatively little to pay back the faith shown in him by the Sturm bosses.
But the manner and the swagger in which Biereth put the finishing touches on a difficult 4-2 win on his first appearance as a permanent member of Christian Ilzer’s squad went some way to explaining why the Austrian Bundesliga champions were so thrilled to retain his services.
“Mika is an absolute top striker for our system,” sporting director Andreas Schicker told via the club’s official website.
“With power and an enormous goal threat.”
Both of those attributes were on display as Biereth turned on the afterburners and left the SC Kremser backline choking on his dust. Comparisons have often been drawn with fellow Dane and former Sturm striker Rasmus Hojlund.
And there were certainly shades of Hojlund in the way Biereth burst away to finish ruthlessly on the counter attack, eerily reminiscent of the goal Manchester United’s £64 million man scored against Galatasaray in last season’s Champions League.
15 goals last season and one already this
“We never made it a secret that we wanted to see Mika continue in Graz after his excellent performances in the spring,” added Schicker.
“We are therefore extremely happy that we were now able to implement this venture. In addition to the very good discussions with Arsenal, Mika’s very clear commitment to SK Sturm was crucial.
“We are extremely happy that he doesn’t see his job at Sturm as over yet and to continue to see him in the Sturm shirt.”
Still only 21, the London-born Biereth started his career at Fulham but made the short trip over to Arsenal three years ago.
The speedy Scandinavian never made a first team appearance under Mikel Arteta but he did score a combined 15 goals during loan spells at Motherwell and Sturm Graz during the 2023/24 campaign.
For 2024/25, meanwhile, his current tally stands at one in one. And while such a strike rate is highly unlikely to continue, the way Biereth has kicked off the new year should emphatically dispel and lingering ‘one season wonder’ fears.
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