It seemed like Tony was giving Artie his shot in "Everybody Hurts". Tony was reeling from Gloria's suicide and didn't want to let anyone down. He kept referring to himself as "a toxic person". He finds out Artie reached out to Ralphie for a loan, and immediately questioned his own friendship to Artie and decided to offer a sweeter deal. Tony was even giving Artie advice on how to loanshark and stay on top of deadbeats. Who knows what happens if that Armagnac deal works out? Of course, it didn't. Artie being Artie and all. By mob standards, Artie was way too weak, period. But by civilized standards, he was a moderately successful restaurant owner in a mid life crisis, with a powerful yet potentially dangerous friend.

Edit: Make it dangerous friend, outright. I forgot Tony blew up Artie's restaurant in order to prevent a hit from taking place there.