Robin Bairner
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal
© IMAGO
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been told that he had a striker capable of scoring “at any level” but allowed him to leave the club for just €9 million.
The Gunners are crying out for a centre-forward and are set to invest heavily in the position during the summer transfer window. FootballTransfers understands that Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins remains a target while Benjamin Sesko is at the top of their shortlist. Arsenal want to sign both." href="https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-news/uk-premier-league/2025/02/exclusive-arsenal-to-launch-fresh-ollie-watkins-bid-in-thrilling-strike-force-overhaul" target="_blank">Arsenal want to sign both.
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But now Arteta has been told he has been looking at the wrong qualities in a forward, with the more subtle attributes required than the physicality of the aforementioned stars.
Indeed, he has been told he has already allowed such a player to depart.
Mika Biereth has made an electric start to his career at Monaco, whom he joined from Sturm Graz during January.
The 22-year-old London-born star has 10 goals in seven Ligue 1 matches, including three hat-tricks for Adi Hutter’s side.
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Mika Biereth: Built for Arsenal
This incredible form means that he’s one of the hottest strikers across all of European football, and Claude Puel, who coached Lyon to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2010 and played under legendary Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger at Monaco, says that Arteta got it wrong with Biereth.
“I see far too many attackers with physical characteristics who fail to translate their skills due to a lack of sensitivity, an ability to shake off their market and composure,” former Southampton and Leicester manager Puel added to L’Equipe.
“He seems to have all that. Rather than looking for strong and fast attackers, I am in favour of this type of player who is very good in the box, who knows how to make themselves forgotten, who plays with their marker and who has this quality, this finesse and this relaxation in front of goal. When you see him, everything seems easy, but there is never anything easy when you have to put the ball in the net.”
Biereth has made a quicker start to life in France than even Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who scored nine in his first seven games, did with PSG.
“He’ll score whatever the level,” Puel added. “It just depends on whether he gets the chances. I’ve more doubt about that, about the ability of his team-mates to be good with their final pass or cross when faced with greater adversity.
“He’s a player who is built to play in a dominant team.”
A dominant team like Arsenal, Arteta must surely be thinking.