Arsenal have parted ways with several players over the last few years.
Mikel Arteta has taken his time to build his squad, and the Spaniard has mostly done a terrific job on that front at the Emirates Stadium.
Bringing in new players has meant that many of the old ones have had to go, but the outgoings haven’t just been in the first-team – multiple academy stars have moved on as well.
A few of them are doing a phenomenal job at their current clubs. Ian Wright has had his say on one of them now.
Ian Wright says Arsenal selling Mika Biereth was ‘disappointing’
Mika Biereth spent three seasons on Arsenal’s books following his move to North London from Fulham in the summer of 2021.
The talented striker spent three loan spells away from the Emirates in that period. Two of those – at Motherwell and Sturm Graz – were huge successes.
The Austrian side negotiated a deal to sign Biereth permanently last summer, and just six months later, they sold him to Monaco for a profit.
Arsenal made some money off Biereth’s transfer too, but Gunners icon Wright is really disappointed that the 22-year-old did not get a chance at the Emirates.
He feels that Biereth would’ve definitely been in the first team now if he wasn’t sold.
When asked why Arsenal sold Biereth, Wright told GFFN: “If I’m honest, it must’ve been something with the plans Arsenal had.
“Mika should’ve been in and around it at the moment. One of our chats early on was about him showing himself in the preseason for Arsenal and giving it his best go.
But he had the bravery to go to Scotland, then Austria and now France and that is what shows he wants to be the best! He has to be playing to prove that. His record speaks for itself.
“It’s disappointing for Arsenal, but on a human level, I’m delighted for him.”
READ MORE: Arsenal fans all said the same thing about Mika Biereth after Kai Havertz’s injury
Mika Biereth’s stats since leaving Arsenal
Biereth has been in sensational form since leaving Arsenal.
The 22-year-old did really well for Sturm Graz in his first six months there, and he has taken his game to a whole new level following his move to Monaco in France.
Games | Goals | Assists | Minutes per goal | |
Mika Biereth at Sturm Graz | 25 | 14 | 5 | 140.78 |
Mika Biereth at Monaco | 12 | 11 | 3 | 78.18 |
25 goals in 37 games is a terrific return – no player at Arsenal can match that record.
There must be some sort of regret among the decision-makers at Arsenal for selling Biereth for just £4 million last summer.