The fall out between manager and star player has been a long-running feud.
It explains why Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was ready to go to extraordinary lengths to force through a move to Barcelona on deadline day.
Aubameyang, 32, has been left out in the cold by Mikel Arteta after their last fall-out and, even with Arsenal struggling to score goals, the manager would rather see his most prolific striker leave on a free transfer than have to kiss and make-up.
Even the biggest Arsenal fan would surely have to admit that Aubameyang has not been the same player since signing a mega three year contract worth £350,000-a-week back in September 2020.
It was Arteta who actually championed that deal, pushed hard to get it done - and has probably regretted it ever since.
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The cracks in the relationship first became public in March 2021 when Arteta dropped Aubameyang for the North London derby, citing “disciplinary reasons.”
It later emerged that the Gabon striker had got stuck in traffic and it was far from being the first time he turned up late but that was easier to square off because Arsenal beat Tottenham.
Aubameyang had also missed a UEFA test which ruled him out of Europa League trip while he also contracted malaria in April 2021 while on international duty which surely would have been avoided had he taken a vaccination.
He was one of several players to test positive for coronavirus at the start of the 2021/22 season which no-one can be blamed for considering the outbreaks throughout the campaign.
But the row flared again after Arteta dropped Aubameyang in December 2021 after the striker reported back late after being given permission to fly to France to bring back his ill mother.
That divided opinion among the fans but it was not the first time - and yet it has become clear that it was the last chance as far as Arteta has been concerned.
Arteta has deserved some criticism since taking charge in December 2019 but surely no-one can allow their captain, biggest star and highest-paid player to set such a poor example. Aubameyang taking it upon himself to fly to Barcelona was the final insult.
The Arsenal manager has been diplomatic in his answers in recent weeks about Aubameyang but the club and the player have known it is over.
But the problem is when the team is not scoring goals - they managed just one goal in five games in January - leaving the club’s most prolific striker on the bench looks like Arteta has cut off his nose to spite his face.
Even worse when Arsenal went to great lengths in January to sign a replacement - but failed. The No1 target Dusan Vlahovic went from Fiorentina to Juventus while all the other options did not happen.
It was impossible to see Arteta bringing Aubameyang back into the fold. There has been too much water under the bridge. The fact Arsenal were prepared to sanction this transfer and bring down an end on Aubameyang’s career at the Emirates, tells you everything.
But if Aubameyang does score goals elsewhere then Arsenal struggle and end up missing out on the top four or, even worse, a place in the top six then it is a row which Arteta will struggle to justify.
This is a crunch time for Arteta. His contract expires in 2023. There has been no rush to renew with the club content to see how this season pans out, bearing in mind they did spend £160m last summer even if this window has not brought any major signings.
But if Arsenal finish mid-table and Aubameyang haunts them, then Arteta will not get much sympathy from the fans.
