By request, here’s an in-depth look into the game of the young Arsenal striker, who has been on fire while on loan in Scotland and Austria. How does he play? What is his potential? What's next?
Great piece Billy - recognizing and celebrating his achievements thus far but also not overhyping him to be the next big thing and putting unnecessary spotlight/pressure on him.
When it comes to scouting the BEAST striker - I think it's always difficult to assess how the striker will translate his physicality and speed in different leagues - which makes a high profile transfer of that sort of striker all the more riskier.
I am glad you gave Biereth a comparison to Viktor Gyökeres - whom is heavily linked with us (along with almost every other big club in Europe needing a striker) per Ornstein.
I am personally working on a substack piece myself of Viktor Gyökeres - but am keen to know your initial impressions of him?
Great stuff Billy! Glad you managed to get round to giving a little time to a prospect that has gone under the radar until very recently.
I think he's probably at least 18 months from being anywhere near the Arsenal first team but my eyebrows did raise slightly when I heard he was off to Sturm Graz, they've positioned themselves nicely in Austria as an up and coming talent factory. The promising thing, for me at least, is that he has delivered and improved at every level he has played at since his arrival at Arsenal. Hopefully that continues.
He scores; he bullies his way through opponents; he's fearless; he's not particular about how he gets it done, just gets it does. Yes, Arsenol needs him crashing his straight to the net, running over any one who gets in his way. All nuances aside, Arsenol has been without this kind of player the last 2.5 years, and should be what they go after in the off season. Why do that when you have it at your fingertips?
My concern is that Arteta would find him too far outside his current player profile.
Great piece as always. I’d wish for Arsenal to keep him. It’s rare to have such talented and not expected him to perform at least up to Nketiah’s record.
Top stuff Billy! it may not be realistic, but I'd love to see Mika's role in the team evolve into something like a developmental striker, 3rd choice who gets substantial minutes. With the increase in Champions Leage games next season, our squad is going to be stretched and having someone who can perform in those "dead rubber" games (which, with the new system, I can forsee there being many) along with early stage cup games (basically late September-mid-December) and then a loan move in the 2nd half of the season at a Championship/Tier 2 european league side.
If we take as given that Eddie, along with a number of other Hale End graduates will be sold this summer, and a top striker brought in, I feel like there is a space for Mika in the role I just outlined but was also need to consider having home-grown eligible players in the squad. If we were to lose 4 (Eddie, ESR, Reiss, Rammers), our current squad has 11, we'd be left with 7, so having Mika in the squad would be helpful for other targets. (I may be mistaken on this rule, so happy to be corrected.)
Great piece Billy - recognizing and celebrating his achievements thus far but also not overhyping him to be the next big thing and putting unnecessary spotlight/pressure on him.
When it comes to scouting the BEAST striker - I think it's always difficult to assess how the striker will translate his physicality and speed in different leagues - which makes a high profile transfer of that sort of striker all the more riskier.
I am glad you gave Biereth a comparison to Viktor Gyökeres - whom is heavily linked with us (along with almost every other big club in Europe needing a striker) per Ornstein.
I am personally working on a substack piece myself of Viktor Gyökeres - but am keen to know your initial impressions of him?
Cheers Billy.
Great stuff Billy! Glad you managed to get round to giving a little time to a prospect that has gone under the radar until very recently.
I think he's probably at least 18 months from being anywhere near the Arsenal first team but my eyebrows did raise slightly when I heard he was off to Sturm Graz, they've positioned themselves nicely in Austria as an up and coming talent factory. The promising thing, for me at least, is that he has delivered and improved at every level he has played at since his arrival at Arsenal. Hopefully that continues.
Cheers as always!
He scores; he bullies his way through opponents; he's fearless; he's not particular about how he gets it done, just gets it does. Yes, Arsenol needs him crashing his straight to the net, running over any one who gets in his way. All nuances aside, Arsenol has been without this kind of player the last 2.5 years, and should be what they go after in the off season. Why do that when you have it at your fingertips?
My concern is that Arteta would find him too far outside his current player profile.
Great piece as always. I’d wish for Arsenal to keep him. It’s rare to have such talented and not expected him to perform at least up to Nketiah’s record.
Top stuff Billy! it may not be realistic, but I'd love to see Mika's role in the team evolve into something like a developmental striker, 3rd choice who gets substantial minutes. With the increase in Champions Leage games next season, our squad is going to be stretched and having someone who can perform in those "dead rubber" games (which, with the new system, I can forsee there being many) along with early stage cup games (basically late September-mid-December) and then a loan move in the 2nd half of the season at a Championship/Tier 2 european league side.
If we take as given that Eddie, along with a number of other Hale End graduates will be sold this summer, and a top striker brought in, I feel like there is a space for Mika in the role I just outlined but was also need to consider having home-grown eligible players in the squad. If we were to lose 4 (Eddie, ESR, Reiss, Rammers), our current squad has 11, we'd be left with 7, so having Mika in the squad would be helpful for other targets. (I may be mistaken on this rule, so happy to be corrected.)