Arsenal fans have had their say after a former player scored his third hat trick for his new club, having previously never been given a chance by Mikel Arteta.
Arteta’s side’s chances of securing the Premier League title are all but over as they sit 13 points behind league leaders Liverpool – although they have played a game less than Arne Slot’s side.
The Gunners are out of the FA Cup, crashed out of the Carabao Cup in the semi-final against Newcastle and realistically just have the Champions League to aim for this season.
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Of course, Arsenal’s squad has been heavily depleted by a string of serious injuries to the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
As a result, Arteta, 42, has been forced to start Mikel Merino – a central midfielder by trade – as a striker due to the lack of options in forward areas.
And despite many fans suggesting the club sign a forward in the winter transfer window, no such deal materialised.
However, a forward who left Arsenal in July 2024 has been in fine form at his new team.
Mika Biereth, a London-born Denmark youth international, left Arsenal for Austrian side Sturm Graz last summer and has not looked back since.
He registered 23 goals and nine assists for the Austrian Bundesliga champions - who he was on loan at during the second half of the 2023/24 campaign - which earned him a move to Ligue 1 outfit Monaco in January 2025.
Biereth, 22, has continued his goal-scoring exploits in the French top flight, having already scored ten goals in just seven league games for Monaco.
And if that record wasn’t impressive enough, nine of these strikes were in his last three home games, during which he has scored three hat tricks when playing at the Stade Louis II.
French outlet L’Equipe described him as a player who is “breaking all the records”.
However, not everyone is feeling so positive and given their lack of goalscoring options Arsenal supporters on social media are not best pleased.
One said: "I will never forgive Mikel Arteta."
Another added: "We have to ensure that we profile these young players well so we don't make this mistake again."
While a third commented: "Not saying these 3 would be the answer, but it’s strange that we offloaded Biereth, Balogun, and Nketiah and now we have no striker depth. And everyone could see this injury crisis coming a mile away."
Topics: Arsenal, Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, Mikel Arteta, Ligue 1
Luke Davies