As Nicolas Pepe entered the field in the 71st minute of Arsenal's clash with Wolves, it seemed the die on his career at the Emirates had already been cast.
The £72 million man had failed to start a single Premier League game since October's 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace after finding himself behind Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli and even Eddie Nketiah in the Gunners' pecking order at points this season.
Things got so bad that the Ivorian was even linked with a late transfer away from North London in the January transfer window. While the veracity of those reports was later questioned, Mikel Arteta revealed that talks had taken place over the 26-year-old's lack of game time.
In the space of just 25 minutes though, it appears Pepe may have changed his Arsenal destiny.
With a crucial equalising goal just 10 minutes from time - his first Premier League strike of the season - the former Lille player showcased the exact thing the Gunners have been missing recently.
Composure in the box is something that has generally been absent since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's exile and subsequent departure from the Emirates. Despite his hard work, Alexandre Lacazette has never been a regular goal scorer in England, but this is something Pepe can definitely bring to the table.
On top of goals himself the 26-year-old exhibited his ability to provide for his teammates too, providing the pass in the build up to Lacazette's strike which was eventually turned into his own net by Jose Sa.
Speaking after the game, Arteta was more than happy to admit that Pepe will be able to get more chances in the first team if he continues to deliver like that.
“He’s on the right path (to more game time) and when you’re able to do that and contribute to the team, you’re going to get more minutes," the Spaniard said.
“The more minutes you have, you need to make the most out of them in training every single day and show what you can do. He has the ability to do it, that’s for sure.”
Arteta is big on what player's transmit in terms of their efforts on the pitch and in training sessions at London Colney. It seems that a recent improvement in what Pepe has been offering since his return from representing the Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations is something that the Spaniard has taken a great liking to.
“Since he has come back from AFCON I think I have seen a different Nico as well,” Arteta said earlier this month.
“I don’t know what it is, probably he has realised the importance of the end of the season for him. He had a brilliant end of the season last year. He can replicate that.
“His attitude, his smile, the way he is communicating with everybody, his energy," he went on to add when asked what specifically had changed.
“The way he has trained. His efficiency in training, his application. His energy has changed. I don’t know what it is. I think he felt important again.
“Probably he felt like a proper football player that can win tournaments and felt: ‘Ok, this is me now’. And he needed that and I’m really pleased with that.”
With this in mind, it seems that Pepe could be in line for a chance to impress when Arsenal travel to Vicarage Road to take on Watford on Sunday.
Since Roy Hodgson took charge, the Hornets tend to set up in a low defensive block similar to the one deployed by Wolves last Thursday.
With this in mind there is a possibility that the Ivorian could be exactly what's needed to unpick the undoubtedly tight lock that the Gunners will face.
With just two years left on his contract in North London at the end of this season, it appears a penny has dropped with Pepe that could be what it takes to finally get his Arsenal career off the ground.
As Arteta hopes to steer the Gunners towards Champions League football the first time in over half a decade, he'll be hoping that the 26-year-old can take off into full flight this weekend.
