It was the ease with which Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang found the bottom corner at San Siro that stood out. There was no hesitation, his shot taken in stride. AC Milan goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu threw out his left hand but it was a token gesture. The ball had already rippled the back of his net.
The goal was Aubameyang's third in as many matches – and its importance to Chelsea shouldn't be forgotten. After a poor start to their Champions League group, Graham Potter's side got themselves back on track by defeating Milan at Stamford Bridge, a game in which Aubameyang also found the net.
Yet that victory needed to be consolidated at San Siro against the Serie A champions. An early Jorginho penalty coupled with a Fikayo Tomori red card put Chelsea in control of the fixture but it was only after Aubameyang's clinical finish that the Blues could breathe easy. They were back in control of their own Champions League destiny.
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Potter's side went on to secure top spot in Group E and will take on Borussia Dortmund when the Round of 16 gets underway next week. However, Aubameyang will not feature in the tie or in any further round of the knockout stage after he was removed from the Chelsea squad list last week.
"We had three coming into the squad and that meant someone had to go out. He was the one that missed out, he's done nothing wrong at all," explained Potter after Chelsea's goalless draw with Fulham, a game Aubameyang was not selected for.
"There was always going to be a conversation about the decision we made, but it was my decision. It was a tough decision and sometimes you have to make these calls. But it's absolutely nothing bad against him. He's done nothing wrong at all."
It's understood the decision shocked Aubameyang and – rather naturally – left him hugely disappointed. It has also resulted in further speculation about his future at Stamford Bridge with reports emanating from the USA that Los Angeles FC are exploring a move for the 33-year-old.
Having already represented two European clubs this season, Chelsea and Barcelona, a switch to MLS is one of the few immediate exit routes open to Aubameyang under FIFA regulations. It is unclear whether the former Gabon international would be interested in such a move, but it is increasingly clear he has no long-term future in west London.
That fine goal against Milan – scored on October 11 – remains his last for Chelsea and Aubameyang hasn't started under Potter since his ineffective outing against former club Arsenal in early November. Kai Havertz has become the go-to choice to lead the attack and has kept his place despite scoring just once in his previous seven outings.
A rather awkward question remains: why did the club opt to sign Aubameyang from Barcelona the final hours of the summer window, especially given the expected parting of ways with Thomas Tuchel? It was under the German coach that Aubameyang thrived at Dortmund – and resuming that relationship was a big factor in the forward's decision to join Chelsea from Barcelona.
"I think it's a bit strange for everybody – not only for me – but as I said, this is football, you have to adapt," Aubameyang explained in September. "I will try to talk to him [Tuchel] as soon as possible but it's been a crazy week for all of us. That's part of life, we have to adapt. I think it's a bit of sadness at the moment but hopefully, we'll get back to better days soon."
Senior figures at Chelsea have always insisted Aubameyang wasn't purchased for £10.3million solely for Tuchel, yet the better days the striker wished for after the German's departure have proved fleeting. And instead of Aubameyang's goal at San Siro being viewed as an early highlight in his Chelsea story, it may soon be reflected upon at the beginning of the end.
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