Olivier Giroud came back to haunt Arsenal in the Europa League final on Wednesday night, scoring the opener as Chelsea beat their London rivals.
The French World Cup winner - the top scorer in the Europa League this season - guided home a header from Emerson Palmieri's cross to open the scoring in Baku, responding with a muted celebration.
Pedro and an Eden Hazard penalty then found the back of the net as Chelsea took control, and although substitute Alex Iwobi pulled one back with a brilliant strike, Hazard soon made it 4-1 with an excellent finish.
But it was all down to Giroud's opener which opened the floodgates, with many Gunners supporters claiming that it proved they should never have let him go.
The reason they did though? Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
It was the signing of the Gabonese that forced Giroud out, as he made clear at the time.
“I went to see the coach to ask him where he was with Aubameyang," Giroud said at the time .
"I put him under a bit of pressure, like my agent, who I spoke to several times a day. It is normal. I did not want to be deprived of going to Chelsea which was the best solution for me.
“The coach immediately said to me: 'Don't worry, I will do my best so that you are happy'. On one side, it was normal. I had never asked to leave.
"On the other, I knew that he would not cause problems given the relationship we had always had. He even said to me that it would p*** him off if I did not go to (the World Cup in) Russia.
“It was frustrating at Arsenal obviously. For a year and a half, it went from bad to worse. I could no longer continue like that.
"I could not bring myself to spend another year at Arsenal and remain a reserve, even a second reserve. The future looked gloomy with the arrival of a new striker (Aubameyang).
"I wanted to become happier again by playing, so I left – it is as simple as that.”
