Exclusive | Ian Wright on Mika Biereth: ‘It’s disappointing for Arsenal but on a human level, I’m delighted for him.’ | OneFootball

Having met Mika Biereth (22) back in 2022, Ian Wright became a mentor figure for the Dane during his time at the Arsenal academy and has now spoken to Get French Football News about the AS Monaco forward.

You have been cited as a “mentor” for Mika Biereth. What was your role in his developpment? How did you help him to progress?

I have to always give Mika the credit for proactively reaching out to me years ago. He was looking for advice on where he was at with his game, with the club and what he should do next. I will always give him credit for that because it’s very easy to not make yourself vulnerable to someone else. After he contacted me, we met at my local pub and we have stayed in touch since. I knew about him from his years at Fulham already, but this was more about where he was at that time. He has a great team around him so it was more talking to him as someone who has experience and bouncing off each other. He knows I’m going to push him and hold him accountable to play at his best level.

He told us that he didn’t start as a striker (right-back during a brief spell at Chelsea) but he seems to have a striker’s instinct when it comes to popping up in the box. Were those striker’s instincts something that came naturally to him or did they have to be taught?

His record particularly at youth level showed he was a goal scorer. He has the physical profile to not shy away from being in the box, he creates space with his body and that helps his ability to get a finish off. He always had that instinct when you see his goals at youth level. We saw him in his spell at Motherwell really impose himself in a physical league.

In terms of his play style, did he remind you of yourself in a way?

He’s got a different build to me but what really reminded me of myself is his obsession with scoring goals. He doesn’t care how they go in, he just wants to score. That will always drive and motivate him.

Have you been at all surprised by how well he has started in Ligue 1 (the quickest player to reach 10 goals in Ligue 1 in the 21st century)?

I have been surprised. Not that I doubt his ability, but normally you give players time to adapt to different structures and new opposition. He has that bit of surprise though, opposition won’t be too familiar with him either. The big test is if he can keep it up once the league is familiar with his game. I’m incredibly proud of him, it’s an amazing record so far and long may it continue. He’s also contributing to the team as a whole. He keeps friends from every club he plays for. That’s the type of character he is.

Why do you think that it didn’t quite work out at Arsenal? Given their current striker crisis, is it perhaps regrettable that they let him go?

If I’m honest it must’ve been something with the plans Arsenal had. Mika should’ve been in and around it at the moment. One of our chats early on was about him showing himself in the preseason for Arsenal and giving it his best go. But he had the bravery to go to Scotland, then Austria and now France and that is what shows he wants to be the best! He has to be playing to prove that. His record speaks for itself. It’s disappointing for Arsenal but on a human level, I’m delighted for him.

READ OUR FEATURE PIECE ON BIERETH FOR THE GUARDIAN HERE

GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Monaco