As is usually the case at this time of year, a host of players in Arsenal’s U21 squad face uncertain futures, with some individuals likely to leave on a permanent basis, while others could head out on loan.
Sometimes it transpires that a player in this category can end up staying and playing for the U21s, as Matt Smith did last season, but the best scenario would be to move some of the older players on to create space for younger prospects in the squad.
Mika Biereth is one of those players who isn’t completely sure where his future lies. Arsenal signed Biereth from Fulham in 2021 as they were in need of a striker at U21 level and he certainly filled that void, going on to score 12 goals.
Biereth was also named on the bench for the first-team before being loaned out to RKC Waalwijk. The initial signs were promising as he excelled in pre-season, but Biereth endured a difficult campaign as he struggled with several injuries and was restricted to just 13 appearances, during which he scored two goals.
Now 20 years old, Biereth returned to Arsenal this summer and featured in the opening first-team pre-season friendly against Watford but wasn’t selected for the subsequent games in Germany or the United States. He also had to give up his squad number of 41 following Declan Rice’s arrival and was subsequently allocated 64.
Playing for the U21s this season wouldn’t be of huge benefit for Biereth but it remains to be seen whether the Danish youth international will go out on loan again or instead be sold.
Either way it is difficult to envisage Biereth making it at Arsenal now but he is a talented striker and seems well equipped to succeed elsewhere.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
I hope we don’t sell Mika. I don’t know if I will be able to Biereth…
If we do sell, there’s no need to Mika big deal of it.
He looked a hell of a talent when he joined. I wouldn’t write him off just yet
Mika Tyson walks into a bar, turns to the barman and says: “wound of drinkth fow the ladth”
Barman responds: “what drinks would you like sir?”
Tyson: “Biereth”
?
I still have high hopes for him. Few more loans will do him no harm. But he needs to get game time on loan.
LOAN him and then give him a chance. Also don’t sell Balogun give him a chance but if you sell it out not be anything less than 70m pounds. Rasmus Hojlund is 20yrs old scored 9-11 goals in 32 games and he’s about to be sold to united for 86m pounds. Balogun scored 21 goals in a much tougher league he should not be cheaper than this Rasmus guy thats all I’m going to say. Arsenal need to get better at selling. And not just Balogun but in general. We can’t be selling players like Mavropanos for 6m and he’s… Read more »