Arsenal transfer gamble threatens to cause major problems for Mikel Arteta

Arsenal's failure to snap up Dusan Vlahovic dominated the narrative surrounding the club in January, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's departure was more than an interesting subplot.

Mikel Arteta took the decision to dispense with the former Borussia Dortmund man's services in the final hours of the January transfer window when he was given the green light to pursue a free switch to Barcelona.

Although not all fans agreed with the decision to bid Aubameyang adieu, Arteta's stance was strengthened by the striker's woeful form.

The ex-Gunners captain had been badly misfiring in front of goal before he was exiled from the team by his no-nonsense boss.

The 32-year-old netted just four league goals in 14 appearances during his final months in north London; quite the uninspiring end to his prolific four-year stay with the club.

But all of a sudden, Aubameyang has found a new lease of life since he was offered an escape route from his Emirates hell by Barcelona.

Aubameyang marked his first La Liga start for the Spanish giants by plundering a stunning hat-trick during Sunday's 4-1 win over Valencia; leaving some Arsenal fans to wonder if Arteta has perhaps jumped the gun over their former talisman.

After all, this was the same Aubameyang who almost single-handedly dragged the Gunners to a top-four finish back in the 2018/19 campaign.

There was an assumption that the veteran was done at the top level after his alarming drop in form this term.

But it's not taken him long to quash that talk with his stunning start to life in Spain - which could lead to even more scrutiny on Arteta.

The Arsenal chief came under fire after the club failed to strengthen their squad in January, with some even claiming that their failure to add extra