Mika Biereth says he has spotted a big ‘problem’ at Hale End just months after leaving Arsenal

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Former Arsenal star Mika Biereth is enjoying an exceptional season for Monaco.

Biereth left Arsenal for Sturm Graz in the summer, spending just six months as a permanent employee at the Austrian club before completing a switch to the French side in January.

Netting 12 goals in 13 Ligue 1 appearances this season, the Danish number nine has lit up French football since his move.

Never making an appearance for Arsenal’s first team, the young striker has now issued a subtle dig at the way things are conducted at the Hale End academy.

• READ MORE: Sokratis Papastathopoulos says one former Arsenal man was treated so badly by the club when he was there

Mika Biereth says young players get ‘stuck’ at Arsenal

Many believe selling Biereth was a mistake, with the Gunners cashing in on the starlet for just £4 million last summer.

TransferMarkt now value him at £21 million, over double what Monaco paid for him in January.

In an interview with L’Equipe, Biereth appeared to make a critical remark about the Hale End academy.

“The problem for a lot of children is that they are so programmed to play for Arsenal that when it doesn’t work, they are stuck,” he said.

“There are lots of big clubs that play good football, opportunities and different paths.

“Every player that pulls on an Arsenal shirt wants to succeed there; it is natural. But when you manage to get into this academy, it is anything but a failure.”

Perhaps Biereth has a point, although several Hale End academy graduates, including himself, have gone on to enjoy successful careers elsewhere after leaving Arsenal.

The likes of Omari Hutchinson, Donyell Malen and Folarin Balogun have all impressed after leaving N5 with little senior experience in recent times.

What Thiago Scuro said about Mika Biereth

Biereth scored three hat-tricks in his first seven games for Monaco, a feat that hasn’t been replicated by an Arsenal striker for 70 years.

The forward has started life at Monaco in prolific form and has received praise from the club’s CEO, Thiago Scuro.

Scuro was linked with the vacant Arsenal sporting director role before Andrea Berta was appointed, and the football administrator waxed lyrical about the ex-Gunner to Get Football News France.

“Of course, he has surpassed expectations,” the Brazilian said.

“Nobody could predict that a young player arrives and scores so many goals, as he has. That belongs to him. This success belongs to his mindset, belongs to the way that he arrived at the club, and belongs to the way that he was open to working with the process that we have.

“He adapted quite quickly with his teammates and the play style. Of course, we always expect a player, especially one as young as him, coming from Sturm Graz to Monaco to need some time, to feel comfortable, to be on board.

“Again, he has a special mindset, and this is the reason why he was able to impact strongly.”