Arsenal currently have a strong plethora of young talents aiming to eventually break into the first team, and one of these starlets is thriving out on loan.
Striker Mika Biereth joined Scottish Premiership side Motherwell on loan in the summer window, but having dealt with an injury setback, he is now up and running up North.
The 20-year-old joined Arsenal’s academy from Fulham in 2021, and has thrived in the youth sides before his loan spells at Dutch team RKC Waalwijk and now Motherwell.
A physically imposing but also speedy forward, Biereth is shining in terms of his output, which as it stands, is better than Bukayo Saka, who is one of Arsenal’s best-ever academy products.
Mika Biereth’s incredible output at Motherwell
Either side of an injury which kept him out for six games when he initially joined, Biereth has made eight appearances in the Scottish top flight, with five of these coming as a starter.
In this time, he has scored five goals and provided two assists, with his latest strike coming against Dundee FC on Saturday in a 3-3 draw.
In 492 minutes of league football, Biereth has provided seven goal and assist contributions, meaning his goal or assist ratio stands at one contribution every 70.2 minutes.
Saka, by comparison, has scored five and assisted six times in 13 Premier League appearances, and 1,129 minutes this season, contributing a goal or assist every 102 minutes.
Whilst there is no comparison to be made over their current abilities, and Saka is performing at the very top level, this does show how impressive Biereth has been in what has been his best campaign in senior football.
Arsenal cannot ignore Mika Biereth’s output
Even at youth level, Biereth notched up 25 goals and 15 assists in 37 games for Fulham under-18s ahead of his move to Arsenal.
In 26 games for the Arsenal under-21s, he scored 12 and assisted six times.
The Danish forward is clearly adjusting to senior football quickly, and he could end up developing into a deadly striker.
Arsenal have been linked with a number of centre-forwards including Ivan Toney, and with Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah, Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz all available to Mikel Arteta, it will be tough for Biereth to break into the team no matter what he does this season.
However, his output is simply too good to ignore, and Arsenal will have to make a decision over his future eventually.
Biereth could embark on another loan next season, this time to a Premier League or Championship side to see whether he can continue to maintain his form in front of goal, or the club could even sell him with a buyback clause.
They will be cautious though, that they may lose a remarkable young talent if they do not eventually plan on giving him a chance.
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