Striker who Arsenal sold for just £4m last summer bags THIRD hat-trick in seven games while Gunners struggle for goals
FORMER Arsenal striker Mika Biereth has netted his THIRD hat-trick in seven games since joining AS Monaco.
The striker joined the Ligue 1 club in January having moved on from Sturm Graz.
Biereth, 22, left Arsenal last summer in a deal worth £4million as he moved to the Austrian outfit.
He had spent the 2023 season on loan at Sturm Graz and netted five Austrian Bundesliga goals.
The club then made his loan permanent, which was then followed by some brilliant form.
Biereth netted 11 times in the Austrian league and twice in the Champions League.
This prompted Monaco to splash £12.5m on him in January to bring him to France.
The transfer has thus far been an astonishing success with the striker bagging TEN goals in his first seven league games.
This run of form includes hat-tricks against AJ Auzerre and FC Nantes.
He has now landed his third match ball after netting all three goals in the win over Stade Reims.
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As a result, the Danish forward has written himself into the history books of French football.
He is the first player in 70 years to score three hat-tricks in their first seven games.
He is also now the leading scorer in Europe’s top five leagues since the turn of the year.
Biereth shared a video after the match as he celebrated with the match ball.
He said: “Hey guys, one more hat-trick.
“Thanks for all the fans for coming today and come on Monaco.”
Monaco hailed the striker on social media as they posted: “Hale End finest.”
He has also become the first Monaco player to net three hat-tricks in a single season since Delio Onnis in 1975/76.
Biereth’s scintillating start to life in the south of France has seen him better every Arsenal player’s season record.
After his three strikes against Nantes, Monaco also took the chance to goad his former side.
The club posted: “Absolute Gunner”.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are undergoing a striker crisis at the Emirates Stadium.
Stars Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz have been ruled out for the season.
As well as Biereth, Eddie Nketiah was sold in the summer, which has left manager Mikel Arteta short upfront.
The club were heavily linked with signing a striker in the January window, but opted against the move.
The likes of Benjamin Sesko, Ollie Watkins and Alexander Isak were all names tipped for North London.
The decision immediately backfired as Havertz picked up a season-ending hamstring injury during the club’s warm-weather training camp in Dubai.
The Spanish coach has tried to mould midfielder Mikel Merino into a makeshift striker.
The Euro 2024 winner netted a brace against Leicester City but misfired in the defeat to West Ham and draw with Nottingham Forest.
Arsenal’s blunt attack has not be helped by the long-term absence of Bukayo Saka.
Even Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo admitted he did not need to rely on his usual five at the back formation against the Gunners and he switched to a traditional four.
Biereth never made a first team appearance for Arsenal.
He made a Premier League matchday squad just once, for a 0-0 draw with Burnley in January 2022.