Arsenal spent a new club record transfer fee during the January window in 2018
Jake Bayliss
07:00, 01 Feb 2026
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
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Mikel Arteta fell out with one of Arsenal's marquee signings(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA, Getty Images)
Arsenal were living the dream after splashing a club record sum in the January transfer window, only to find themselves in a nightmare scenario four years later. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's switch from Borussia Dortmund was met with great excitement as the Gunners unveiled their new £56million marksman on deadline day in January 2018.
The striker found the net on his debut and immediately adapted to English football, bagging 10 goals in his first 14 outings. As Arsene Wenger's final signing, Aubameyang appeared to signal the dawn of another successful chapter for Arsenal as he claimed the Premier League Golden Boot in his first full campaign.
In November 2019, the Gabon international was handed the captain's armband and later that season lifted the FA Cup with the Gunners. Aubameyang's new three-year contract in September 2020 was celebrated by Arsenal supporters.
However, Aubameyang was subsequently frozen out of the squad by manager Mikel Arteta. After a short spell out of the team, Aubameyang left the club by mutual consent, less than 18 months after signing his new deal.
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Arteta excluded his captain from a matchday squad to face Southampton in December 2021 due to disciplinary issues, with the forward losing the armband several days later. Aubameyang had returned late from an approved overseas trip to escort his mother back to England and his delay had disrupted the club's COVID-19 protocols, sparking Arteta's anger.
In 2024, reflecting on his dispute with the Arsenal manager, Aubameyang told Colinterview: "I arrive, the coach finishes his meeting and then he grabs me and he completely tears into me. He shouts at me like I'm crazy.
"He says, 'You put a knife in my back. You can't do that to me given the times we're going through.' At that moment I tell myself that I'm not going to answer him because it's going to end angrily.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mikel Arteta
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored 38 goals in 76 games under Mikel Arteta(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
"I didn't go partying. He knows very well the reason for my departure so at that moment I don't understand why he is lecturing me like this. I go home and the doctor calls me and says, 'Tomorrow, the coach doesn't want you to be there.'"
He added: "The days pass and the doctor tells me, 'Look, he doesn't want you to be with the group anymore, but you will be able to come and train but separately.' I say to myself ok... and then afterwards, he calls me and we have a meeting so he can explain to me that one, he's taking away the captain's armband, and two, I'm not training any more with the group."
Aubameyang was sidelined from the squad until his contract was terminated in February 2022, with the striker moving to Barcelona the following day. Despite parting ways with his talisman, Arteta had outlined his justification for dropping Aubameyang when addressing his decision two months earlier.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mikel Arteta with the FA Cup trophy
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Aubameyang captained Arsenal to FA Cup glory at the start of Arteta's reign(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
The Arsenal boss said: "Unfortunately, (Aubameyang has been left out) due to a disciplinary breach. I think we've been very consistent with no negotiables as a team that we have set ourselves as a club, so he's not involved today. Certainly, it's not an easy situation, a situation that we want our club captain to be in."
Arsenal sanctioning Aubameyang's departure illustrated Arteta's growing influence as he started moulding a team that would later compete at the top of the Premier League table. Aubameyang scored 92 goals in 163 appearances for the Gunners.
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