Arsenal: Chido Obi not the only goal-machine Gunners let slip through their grasp | OneFootball

Former Arsenal frontman has been tearing it up since leaving north London

There was more than a hint of irony that on a weekend when Arsenal were deploying Mikel Merino as an emergency striker, one forward the club let go was scoring a hat-trick to reach 20 goals for the season.

Biereth managed 14 goals for Strum Graz in the first half of the season before joining Monaco for over £10million.

The 22-year-old has continued his fine form in France, scoring seven goals in just five Ligue 1 appearances.

Mika Biereth scored a hat-trick as Monaco beat Nantes 7-1 on Saturday and how has 20 goals for the season

AFP via Getty Images

Biereth is shining away from Arsenal, who have profited from his remarkable rise over the past 18 months.

The Gunners sold the striker to Strum Graz last summer in a £4m deal that included a sell-on clause.

When Biereth joined Monaco that paid out and Arsenal are thought to have banked in the region of £2m.

Arsenal will consider £6m a good return from a player who did not make a senior appearance for them.

Biereth joined Arsenal in 2021 after impressing for Fulham, where he scored 21 goals in 21 games for their Under-18 side.

The striker did well for Arsenal youth teams and, after a difficult loan spell at Dutch side RKC Waalwijk, found his feet at Motherwell.

Six goals in 15 games in Scotland led to his loan being cancelled in the middle of last season, with Biereth sent to Strum Graz for the second half of the campaign.

Nine goals in 22 games for the Austrian champions convinced them to sign him permanently last summer, but it was not long before Monaco came calling.

Biereth is now flying in France and his hat-trick against Auxerre earlier this month came in the space of just eight minutes.

French newspaper L’Equipe, usually the harshest of markers, gave the performance 9/10 in their famous player ratings.

“I have already said in several interviews that I see myself as a ‘poor man’s Erling Haaland’,” Biereth said during an interview with Monaco’s website.

“But if I go back a little further in my youth, I liked watching ‘old-school’ strikers like Didier Drogba, who really had incredible athletic qualities and a sense of goal.

“Signing for Arsenal was also a good memory. Having the opportunity to be on the bench for the first team on several occasions was great, even if the fact of never having had the chance to come in was a bit frustrating.

“But that’s part of football, and it still allows you to gain experience, and to be the player I am today.”