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.
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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 firepower to their squad could prove terminal to their hopes of ending a multi-year exile from the Champions League.
Arteta insisted that he and sporting director Edu had made the right call by electing to keep their powder dry until the summer after they were snubbed by their top target.
Given how tight it is in the race for a top-four place, that always felt like a big gamble from the Arsenal hierarchy.
That hasn't changed - even though the Gunners are still finely poised to pip their rivals and clinch the final spot in Europe's premier competition.
But the last thing Arteta needs right now is the former striker he booted out of the club to start lighting up La Liga.
Although the Gunners edged to a 2-1 win over Brentford at the weekend to keep their season on track, they've struggled to hit the net in recent weeks.
Since smashing five goals past Norwich on Boxing Day, Arsenal had only managed two goals in six games prior to Saturday's triumph at the Emirates.
That dismal run included disappointing blanks against Burnley in the league and Nottingham Forest, who dumped Arteta's side out of the FA Cup.
Even Saturday's goals were nabbed by Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka, meaning the Gunners strikers blanked again.
And in addition to that, the Gunners' former talisman is still managing to cast a shadow over his former boss from overseas.
Arteta's gamble of ending the month with his squad a striker light could still pay off, but Aubameyang's resurgence is a headache that he could do without right now.
