Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was once a fan favourite amongst Gooners, scoring 68 goals in almost 130 appearances during his four year stay with Arsenal. However, he left the club 15 months ago and the circumstances surrounding his acrimonious departure have been revealed. Speaking at his unveiling with Barcelona last year, Aubameyang suggested his departure from the Emirates was predominantly down to manager Mikel Arteta. He said: ‘I think it was a problem just with him [Arteta]. I can’t really tell you much. He wasn’t happy and that was it. I can’t say anything else because that’s what happened. I wasn’t very happy and I’m better this way.’ His move from the Gunners came just weeks after Aubameyang was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy by Arteta following multiple disciplinary breaches, with the final straw coming after he returned to London late from a trip abroad. Arteta was keen to play down any suggestion of a rift between himself and his former player, praising him for his contribution to the club and saying that the decision was taken collectively between the player, the club and agent. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returned to north London for the first time since leaving Arsenal for Barcelona as a free agent in February 2022 when he was handed his first Premier League start since November in Chelsea’s away clash at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.