Breaking News:Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's finally reveals why he was forced out of Arsenal

The pressure on Aubameyang to lead by example was perhaps greater given the fact he was captain and earning £350,00-a-week at the time. However, he was soon relieved of the armband and found himself training alone.

The player also attracted negative press ahead of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations when he was sent home for disciplinary reasons. Aubameyang and team-mate Mario Lemina were spotted partying and breaking Covid-19 protocols on the eve of the tournament, though the former insisted the premature exit was based on medical grounds.

But the final insult to Arsenal was still to come as Aubameyang took his fate into his own hands in an attempt to secure an Emirates Stadium exit. The veteran flew to Barcelona prior to any agreement on his transfer, without either club being appraised of his plans.

Aubameyang looked back to his best at Barca before an ill-fated Chelsea spell 

It worked a treat considering his Arsenal contract was torn up in February 2022, 18 months before it had been due to expire. He promptly penned terms with Barca, where he went on to revive his form and net 13 goals in 23 matches.

"Once again, [Arteta] explains why he is against me during this period when it was complicated for the club," Aubameyang said of his final conversation with Arteta. "That I have to be an example and that I couldn't do that [return late]. At that moment, I said, 'I admit that I have my share of responsibility, but the real cause I think you can understand if you are a little bit human. You can understand my move.' After that, it was over, I stayed for a month training on my own while waiting for the break."

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Around this time, Aubameyang turned to booze to cope with the depression prompted by such a "difficult passage" in his career. Aubameyang admitted: "It affects a man, it was difficult. How to get out? Often we say that we have to talk about it, there's no shame in that."

Things have worked out well for everyone involved in the long run, at least. Aubameyang is back on form in a leading role at Marseille while Arsenal have emerged as title contenders under Arteta - yet their last days together were far from peaceful as a once sparkling bond turned sour.