Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is under fresh pressure after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a hat-trick in Barcelona's 4-1 win against Valencia on Sunday afternoon.
Arteta allowed Aubameyang to join the Spanish giants on a free transfer earlier this month. The Gabon international hadn't played for the Gunners since December.
Many Arsenal fans have questioned the manager's decision to allow Aubameyang - who's scored 291 club goals during his career - to leave the Emirates without a replacement.
"Furious with Arteta for giving him away to do this elsewhere," tweeted broadcaster Piers Morgan after the striker's hat-trick. "What a terrible, terrible decision."
And Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets has further scrutinised Arteta's decision to release Aubameyang by calling the 32-year-old a "gift".
Was Mikel Arteta right to allow Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to leave Arsenal? Let us know in the comments below!
"He's working really well, he came here needing minutes but he is getting them now," Busquets told Movistar+ at full-time.
"I hope he helps us like this because he is a great player and having him in the squad on a free transfer is a gift."
The social media reactions of current Arsenal stars Rob Holding and Alexandre Lacazette also didn't help the situation.
"Aubama what!" wrote Holding on Aubameyang's Instagram page, while Lacazette - who has succeeded the Barcelona striker as the Gunners captain - responded with fire emojis.
Although the two players are just being supportive of their former team-mate, their responses only scrutinises Arteta's decision to allow Aubameyang to leave.
But the Spaniard's decision will be justified if Arsenal finish fourth in the Premier League.
The Gunners are in a great position heading into the final months of the season. They're currently sixth, four points behind Manchester United in fourth with three games in hand.
"If they don’t finish top four, it’s a failure," former Arsenal defender William Gallas told The Metro on behalf of Bet365 last week.
"It’s that simple. When you play and manage a big club like Arsenal, your target is to finish top four.
"I know it's not easy with so many clubs like [Manchester] City, Chelsea, United, Liverpool, Tottenham but that doesn’t matter - you have to finish in the top four at a minimum.
"You’ve got a strong squad with Arsenal, if Arteta doesn’t make top four, he’s failed."
On the decision to release Aubameyang, Gallas added: "If the club took that decision, they must have a reason to let Aubameyang go to Barcelona.
"They took that decision in the best interests of the squad.
"Something has clearly happened; we don’t know what happened between Aubameyang and Arteta and now everyone has to move on.
"It looks like Arsenal without him are doing well, their goal is to qualify for the Champions League.
"If they do that, everyone will say they made the right decision but if they don’t, they’ll say why did they let Aubameyang leave? Ultimately, we’ll only know at the end of the season."
Discussing Aubemeyang's performance on Sunday, Barcelona manager Xavi said: "He has scored goals his entire career.
"It was to be expected that he would score here soon, too. He goes very well to space. He is mature. He is very intelligent. I am delighted with him."
