It was just typical that out of favour Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was to hit the ground running in the blue and red stripes of Barcelona.
Many thought it was a wise decision from Mikel Arteta to move on a player who had been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons in the last few months on the condition that he was to be replaced but the five goals in the last three scored by the Gabonese coupled with other factors have posed more questions than answers.
However this didn't happen despite strong links to Juventus' new man Dusan Vlahovic and Real Sociedad's Alexander Isak.
Instead, Edu's inability to sign a new number 9 in the mid-season market actually affected the outgoing side of things too with Newcastle United unable to secure the signing of Eddie Nketiah who has now stayed as a result of the lack of movement in January on the incoming side of things.
Now, after a potential top four spot is secured, Stan Kroenke and co have been tasked with providing the funds to Arteta for the long-term goalscorer who will be vital in the Spaniard's project in north London.
Many names have been mentioned as to who could be targeted by Edu with the likes of Luka Jovic and Patrik Schick all linked, but it's two other names, who are exciting young talents in football, who have been namechecked by the punditry duo as potential and successful Aubameyang replacements.
First off, Lille's Jonathan David has been a long-term target of Arsenal and his audition at Stamford Bridge recently in the Champions League gave the Gunners a first hand experience of how the Canadian would fare against a Premier League rival.
And it's unsurprising to see 22-year-old impress various scouts in west London with Newcastle now in the race to topple London clubs for Lille's talismanic figure.
An update that will not come as much of a shock to Cole who backed the Gunners to make a move for David in his analysis pre-Chelsea vs Lille in the Champions League Round of 32.
He said on BT Sport's coverage: "He plays that beautiful, raw way - he runs on shoulders, good finisher, he’s a target man, he holds it up. All eyes of Europe are looking at him.
"A lot of his teammates’ performances have dropped this year and his have actually stayed and gone up. This is what he’s all about though, once he gets in behind he’s clinical, his touch is good, strong.
"He looks like a player who has even more levels to go up. I’m not surprised lots of Premier League clubs are looking at him. He scores off both feet, he’s a real talent."
So, that's Cole's recommendation for who he believes should replace Aubameyang but what does his punditry compatriot Neville think Edu should do in this situation?
Well, Chelsea loanee and Southampton striker Armando Broja is a player who he believed is a 'really exciting' prospect that could fill the role vacated by Barcelona's new number 25.
“Enormously impressed by Broja,” said Neville on Sky Sports vis HITC. “He’s so smooth. When you look at him in the final third, I think the really top young players look well ahead of their years.
“They have more time on the ball than you think. They are really composed in their finishing. It doesn’t look like he’s sprinting because he is always in control. He knows what he is going to do and slows himself down in the final third.
“A lot of young players are erratic and they are rash. He’s not. He’s a really, really exciting talent and I like him a lot.”
Amid all summer speculation and hype surrounding a potential deal for the former Vitesse Arnhem man, football.london understands that if any deal was to be agreed in the summer between the two clubs, Marina Granovskaia would add a buy back clause in the negotiations like she did in the recent Livramento and Tammy Abraham situations.
The main aspect though that may sway Arsenal to David over Broja is the fact that Chelsea have the full power in this situation, football.london understands.
Regardless of what happens in the end, the disagreement between the two striker candidates from the punditry duo showcases the fact that Arsenal have many options in this situation as they aim to supply Arteta with the the right tools to help elevate this current outfit who look to build upon a potential top four finish if things go their way before the end of 2021/22.
