Flashback to January 2018 and, marooned on Arsenal's bench, Olivier Giroud seeks a move across London to keep alive his hopes of playing at the World Cup.
After five-and-a-half years at the Emirates, Arsene Wenger granted Giroud his wish and waved him off with warm wishes and a glowing tribute.
He may have been joining arch-rivals Chelsea, but there was no resentment here.
Six months later and Giroud was leading the line as France's non-goalscoring striker as they surged to their second World Cup triumph in Russia.