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Former Arsenal youth player Mika Biereth now finds himself in an uncertain position at Monaco as his earlier scoring form in France has become a distant memory.
The Danish forward could make an appearance against Nordsjaelland in the Conference League tonight, which would mark his first encounter with a club from his homeland, though his spot in the lineup remains uncertain.
Biereth sat on the bench for the first two matches in this year’s tournament, a 2-1 victory over CSKA Sofia and a 3-0 triumph against Freiburg, while his chances in Ligue 1 have become equally limited.
He has played a mere 15 league minutes over the last two months during a 1-0 loss at Lorient and has not made the matchday squad in four of the last five games.
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Fellow ex-Arsenal player Folarin Balogun is expected to feature against Nordsjaelland, with Paris Brunner and Matthis Abline also currently ahead of Biereth in contention for a starting role.
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It marks a sharp contrast to his impressive start at Monaco after his transfer in January 2025.
Biereth netted 13 goals in his first 16 matches in France following his move from Sturm Graz, a performance that has led to discussions about Arsenal’s decision to sell him, especially given their need for a reliable striker.
However, Biereth’s form has significantly declined since that initial burst of success.
He ended last season with just two Ligue 1 goals and three in the French Cup, starting this new campaign under a new manager, Filipe Luis, hoping for a fresh start.
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He kicked off this season on a high note, scoring the first goal in a 3-2 qualifying win against Gornik after scoring in the 4-1 first leg victory. Opportunities arose due to Abline’s injury and expectations surrounding Balogun’s exit, allowing Biereth to play 173 minutes in August, which made up 91 percent of his playtime so far.
Since that promising start, however, his playing time has dwindled dramatically.
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“It’s a difficult situation for him, but honestly, he knows his situation,” Filipe Luis declared.
“The competition between the four front players is tough. I know it’s not an easy time for him but what’s important is that he doesn’t put his head down. There may be an opportunity and he needs to be ready.”
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If Biereth cannot recapture the form that characterized his initial time at the club, his predicament is likely to remain challenging as January approaches, potentially leading to a transfer.
His representatives have reportedly met with Monaco officials, and there is an understanding regarding the considerations for a transfer.
Monaco invested €13 million in him in January 2025 and are not anticipated to regain that investment. However, with the current arrangement falling short of expectations, a change appears imminent.
Having grown up in London, the Danish striker, who has represented his country nine times internationally, joined Arsenal from Fulham in July 2021, where he logged 25 goals and 15 assists in 37 games for their under-18 team.
Photo via Arsenal Academy on Twitter
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He achieved a hat-trick against the Chelsea Under-23s in September 2021 and was close to joining the senior team, but did not make any official appearances despite being on the bench four times (including one in the Premier League and one in the FA Cup).
He played regularly on loan instead.
Biereth debuted professionally at RKC Waalwijk during the 2022/23 season, netting twice in 13 games across all tournaments.
He later scored six goals in 15 matches for Motherwell before being recalled by Arsenal in January 2024 and subsequently transferred to Sturm Graz.
This led to nine goals in 22 games as the Austrian side won both the league and cup.
Photo via Biereth on Instagram
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In July 2024, Arsenal permanently transferred him for a reported fee of £4 million, and he continued his scoring streak.
Biereth recorded 11 goals in 16 Austrian league matches during the first half of the 2024/25 season, including a hat-trick against Red Bull Salzburg, and scored against Girona and Lille in the Champions League.
By the time he joined Monaco, his combined record for loan and permanent matches with Sturm Graz stood at 23 goals and nine assists in 47 appearances. Arsenal received approximately €2 million from their sell-on clause.
His impressive start in France indicated a potential rise to stardom, but the narrative has since shifted significantly.
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Biereth now struggles to earn a spot in the Monaco lineup, with a transfer likely on the horizon as January approaches, potentially marking his seventh club in a tumultuous career.
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