It was a scene that neither set of fans could have predicted less than two years prior.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang taking to the Emirates pitch during Arsenal versus Chelsea maybe, but no one could have forseen the Gabon international would be lining up in the blue of the Gunners' London rivals under the guidance of Stamford Bridge icon Frank Lampard.
The image of Aubameyang looking around a stadium packed full of fans that once adored him, but were now readying themselves to boo his every touch, was one that quickly went viral on social media. A hearty chorus of 'North London forever' belting out under the lights, it was the kind of atmosphere Arsenal's Aubameyang would have likely relished.
This is the same man that bailed them out on so many occasions, whether it be hat-tricks to lead them to the Europa League final, or successive braces to guide the Gunners' to FA Cup glory, he was often a man for the big occasion.
But no longer, it seems, with this current version of Aubameyang plying his trade in west London a shell of the one who lit up the north of the capital.
In light of his latest controversy, where Aubameyang has publicly confessed his desire to leave Chelsea in an exchange with a fan that was filmed, Mirror Football has taken a look back at the forward's last few years, which have been particulaly turbulent to say the least.
Arsenal exile
The first signs that Aubameyang's career was on the decline came towards the back-end of his time at Arsenal.
Having penned a lucrative contract extension in the summer of 2020, the quality of his performances suffered a sharp decline. But that wasn't even close to the biggest problem. Manager Mikel Arteta was able to excuse poor form, every striker endures droughts in front of goal.
What they don't do is return later than agreed from a mid-season trip to France. That's exactly what Aubameyang did in December 2021 and it is exactly why he was suspended from the first-team and stripped of the Arsenal captaincy.
The moment the rest of the Gunners squad was informed of the news was captured during the behind-the-scenes Amazon 'All or Nothing documentary, with Arteta telling his players: "I have to announce to you something. Following the last disciplinary issue that we had with Auba, and the consequences that I decided to take not to involve him in the game.
"I thought carefully to myself and the club about the next step and we have decided as a club that he is no longer captain."
Weeks later, Aubameyang was gone altogether. The manner in which left certainly tarnished his Arsenal legacy in the eyes of the Emirates faithful, with the forward taking it upon himself to fly to Barcelona on January deadline day last year.
Not even Arsenal spoting director Edu or Arteta knew that Aubameyang was already trying to force through his move to Barcelona at the time, but he was successful in his pursuit and put pen to paper on a three-year deal at the Camp Nou after his Gunners contract was terminated.
A brief spell at Barca
There isn't much to say about Aubameyang's time at Barcelona other than he looked back to his old self in the famous blue and red shirt.
His full debut for the Blaugrana saw the Gabon ace net a hat-trick against Valencia in a 4-1 win and many assumed Aubameyang's Arsenal woes were simply down to being unhappy with life under Arteta.
With 13 goals for Xavi's side across all competitions, the Barcelona fans took to their new forward quickly.
Aubameyang's undoubted highlight in Spain came in the form of his brace away at fierce rivals Real Madrid during the 4-0 El Clasico win.
Back playing with a smile on his face, it seemed as if the troubles that blighted his Arsenal exit were behind him and Aubameyang made little secret of his desire to stay in Spain.
"I'll have to work hard and I hope to have a great season, it's my goal because I want to stay as long as I can at this club, I’ll try to give it my all."
About that...
A shock return to London
Just eight months after becoming a Barcelona player, Aubameyang was on the move again as the Spanish titans were plauged with financial problems and viewed him as a profitable asset.
As a result, Aubameyang opted to burn the last of his Arsenal bridges and reunite with his old Borussia Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea in a move worth £8million in the summer of 2022.
The reunion lasted one game before Tuchel was sacked and replaced by Graham Potter. The ex-Brighton manager made clear on where Aubameyang sat in his order of priorities by snubbing him in Chelsea's registered Champions League squad.
"It was a tough decision, a tough call, we had three coming in and two had to go out, so he was the one that missed out," Potter told the media, but it marked the beginning of the end for Aubameyang.
Starts were few and far between, so much so that the last two league fixtures where Aubameyang has been deployed from the off have both come against Arsenal - six months apart.
Which brings us to this latest low, where the 33-year-old has been filmed confirming his dream of ending his Chelsea nightmare to return to Barcelona.
It is incredibly likely that Aubameyang forces through his Chelsea exit in the summer with one Premier League goal to his name and two London fanbases keen to see the back of him once and for all.
