Exciting Arsenal striker set for first-team chance

Arsenal struggled massively last season. Performances were poor, results matched those and the final few matches of the campaign were a desperate attempt to cling onto something.

The above relates to the Under-23 side, not the senior team. Sadly, it applied to both.

As Mikel Arteta’s side saw European football escape them despite a mad dash at the end to get some points on the board, Steve Bould’s men required a last-gasp 2-2 draw on the final day of the season to stave off relegation in Premier League 2. That would be his final involvement as manager.

Goals were an issue for both sides. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had his worst campaign in front of goal, Alexandre Lacazette chipped in with a few and Nicolas Pepe’s late flurry got him some numbers on the spreadsheet as Arsenal desperately struggled for creativity.

Exciting Arsenal striker Mika Biereth set for first-team chance under Mikel Arteta after impressing in Kevin Betsy’s Under-23 side

The club have to bring in a new centre-forward next summer. In order to lift the ceiling of this team a new No. 9 needs acquiring, and if there is ever a position where a ‘marquee’ signing would be welcome, it’s up front.

Kevin Betsy’s Under-23 side didn’t go marquee, but with Per Mertesacker and a fine scouting team reshaping the squad over the summer, they acquired their own version: Mika Biereth. In fairness, it didn’t require a degree in football scouting to see 21 goals and 13 assists for Fulham’s Under-18 side in the previous campaign as someone worth signing.

Perhaps with an eye on being the replacement for Folarin Balogun, who has made the step up into the senior squad but still been used on weekly basis with the Under-23s, the Dane has been in fine form this term.

He has five goals and three assists in 12 league outings this season, capturing the attentions of Denmark’s Under-19 team over the recent international break, whom he scored for on his debut.

As per football.london, Biereth is highly rated around London Colney and he will be gradually handed his chance to impress with the reward of first team training sessions as a result of his performances. The likes of Charlie Patino have taken that path and are now well in with the chance of featuring in the Carabao Cup quarter-final squads.

Upon completing this season it is mooted that Biereth could be sent out on loan, which is the wise next step for an 18-year-old youth player’s development.

Brought in on a free transfer, the striker has proven to be another clever pick-up under Mertesacker’s watchful eye, with the revamped youth sides making huge strides since he took over in charge of the academy.

From battling relegation last season, the Under-23 side are sitting top of the table with 26 points from their 12 matches, and are just two goals shy of matching their entire tally from the previous term. Biereth has played a huge role in that.