Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar made the bold decision to offload several Arsenal players in the summer, including some made in Hale End.
Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah were among those who brought their time in N5 to a close, with the two players sealing Premier League moves.
Another figure the Gunners sold was Mika Biereth, who had learned his craft at Hale End for three years.
Biereth signed for the North Londoners from Fulham in 2021 and spent some time in the academy as well as impressing in loan spells, paving the way to his permanent exit this summer.
Former Arsenal striker Mika Biereth names the toughest defender he’s faced
During the second half of the 2023/24 campaign, the striker went on loan to Austrian outfit Sturm Graz where he excelled, contributing to 13 goals in 22 appearances.
The 21-year-old impressed enough to earn a permanent transfer, seeing him now play in the Champions League.
Recently, the ex-Hale End talisman opened up about the changes in his career to The Athletic, where he took the time to name the toughest defender he’s faced so far – it’s not a certain Arsenal centre-back pairing.
- READ MORE: ‘Stunning’ player Mikel Arteta sold this summer admits that he already wants to come back at Arsenal
“Schlotterbeck could be one of the best I’ve played against in a real game,” Biereth said, reminiscing on Sturm Graz’s Champions League defeat to Borussia Dortmund.
“Just in terms of everything on the ball. So calm and composed, doing all sorts of passes across the pitch, really quick and really firm in tackles,” the forward elaborated.
From coming up against William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes in training to facing Real Madrid’s Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger in the Champions League, it was the Dortmund man who earned the top spot.
Why did Biereth leave Arsenal?
Arsenal had an exciting talent in Biereth however, the Denmark U21 international deemed it was best to move his career on.
After spending half a season at Sturm Graz, the budding striker revealed his thoughts of having ‘unfinished business’ at the Austrian club, making the bold move to fly the nest in North London.
“I felt there was unfinished business, so I decided to come back,” Biereth explained.
“A big factor was how I felt in the club, around the building, with the manager, the sporting director and the players. I really felt like a part of something.
“Then, the opportunity to be the starting striker for a Champions League club at 21 was one I couldn’t turn down.”
It’s very rare that young talents can leave an academy as promising as Hale End and walk into a Champions League side, making the 21-year-old’s decision a simpler one than some would expect.
Having contributed to 17 goals in only 26 appearances for Arsenal U21, it was clear that the forward was on the path to outgrowing the academy setting, leading him to take the next step in his career.
Now, the striker is playing in the best competition European football has to offer, which is testament to his hard work and decision-making regarding life outside the academy.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
