Former Arsenal striker Mika Biereth scored another hat-trick for Monaco

The 22-year-old joined the Gunners from Fulham five years ago but never made a senior appearance for the north London club.

Fruitful loan spells at RKC Waalwijk, Motherwell and Sturm Graz failed to convince Arteta that Biereth was ready to challenge the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and Kai Havertz for a first team place.

After joining Graz permanently last summer, it wasn’t long before Biereth was on the move again, signing for Monaco in January.

The striker has made an astonishing start to his Ligue 1 career and registered his third hat-trick in seven games in Monaco’s 3-0 win over Reims last night.

Friday’s goals were his eighth, ninth and 10th since joining the club and follow hat tricks against Auxerre and Nantes.

Biereth opened the scoring against Reims after 34 minutes by stealing in at the back post to side-foot home a cross from Caio Henrique.

He doubled Monaco’s lead five minutes later when he steadied himself in a crowded penalty box and volleyed home.

His third was a simple tap in in the second half after a point-blank save by the Reims goalkeeper.

‘It’s a good night but the most important thing is the three points,’ the striker said after the game.

‘I admit I don’t fully realise what’s happening with this new hat-trick. I approach every game trying to score and my team-mates put me in good positions.

‘I think I’ve always been pretty good at putting the ball in the back of the net. Today, it worked well again. (On the balls brought home) I don’t have a lot of furniture at home, so at the moment, there’s a lot of space.’

Asked if he felt he could finish the season as the top scorer in Ligue 1, he added: ‘The end of the season is still a long way off, I’ll take it one game at a time and I hope the goals continue to come.

‘Of course, things are going very well at the moment, but everyone around me keeps me grounded.

‘I’ve only been wearing the AS Monaco jersey for nine games, so everything is going well so far.

‘I’ll keep working hard for the Club and then I’ll see about the selection, especially since I can represent four countries, which is quite a unique situation.’