THE frenzied gesticulations were familiar. The exhortations from the touchline were the same. The passion and fervour were as evident as ever. The only thing different was that the gentleman responsible for such actions was now standing in the visitors’ technical area, not the home sanctum.

Unai Emery and his underrated Villarreal team eased past an underwhelming Arsenal side on Thursday evening — and not a single right-thinking Gooner would begrudge the man and his club their success in reaching the Europa League final, where they will now face Manchester United. 

Emery’s previous European match at Ashburton Grove was the miserable defeat by Eintracht Frankfurt in November 2019 that sealed his fate. 

A lot has happened to the world in the intervening 18 months. Emery went away to lick his wounds, intent on rejuvenating his career and restoring his reputation.

Judging by his team’s success against Arteta’s side, it has certainly worked. In north London, meanwhile, Arsenal have regressed even further. 

The contrast on the touchline was instructive. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was also a study in perpetual motion, but his team were unable to carry out his wishes. 

It was a shame, because in a distinctly underwhelming opening 45 minutes the thought did cross your mind that this Arsenal side looked all played out. 

Injuries have taken their toll of course, not least when the combative Granit Xhaka hurt himself in the warm-up, prompting an undercooked Kieran Tierney to start. The tireless Scottish defender gave his all before running out of steam late on. 

But he wasn’t the only one. Arteta’s side looked tired after a long season, while not quite sustaining the inner belief that all great teams possess, which can get you over the line in tight games fraught with tension. 

Players’ inexperience was also cited by Arteta after the match, and it was true up to a point. But it doesn’t matter how young or old you are if you can consistently perform to the level that your talent suggests you have. 

Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka are the future of Arsenal. But they cannot be expected to perform with metronomic consistency, not least when many senior players have failed to do so.

Now is not the time to point the finger at anyone, and certainly not on blameless youngsters who have outperformed many senior pros during this long and tortuous campaign.

For Arteta to suggest that inexperience was a reason for defeat to Emery was as disingenuous as it was incorrect. 

While not matching the protest numbers before the Everton game in the wake of the failed Super League betrayal, they were still loud and organised enough to send another eloquent message to Arsenal’s absentee owner — as well as to Spotify chief Daniel Ek waiting in the wings. No wonder a protester’s placard read: “Kroenke Out — Ek In.”

Earlier, on a busy day in N5, the peaceful but vociferous anti-Kroenke demonstrations from frustrated fans outside the stadium prior to kick-off were a point well made. 

Something is rotten in the state of Arsenal and a full and frank reckoning on the future of the club, Arteta, and many of his underperforming side is coming.

But for now, let us simply praise Emery: a dignified man who always gave his best for Arsenal during a challenging time in charge following the long-serving Arsene Wenger.  

And when his Villarreal side understandably erupted with joy at the final whistle, who was the man who avoided being engulfed in the jubilations, instead purposely seeking out some of his former players to shake their hands and offer a consolatory word? It was Emery, of course. A truly dignified gentleman. We wish him well. 

Meanwhile, I would like to say a massive thank you to each and every single person who stepped up to help save the Gooner Fanzine by subscribing. 

It was as humbling as it was heartening to experience the goodwill and support shown by so many. The backing by Arsenal supporters, but also of football fans in general who appreciate informed, intelligent, irreverent writing, means that we have secured the fanzine’s long-term future.

It’s been a struggle and I have to admit that I am knackered after my constant proselyting. But it’s all been worth it. 

As Gooner editor I am also proud because, as someone who loves and values the printed word, through the support of so many, we have bucked global trends and shown that print can not only survive but flourish. 

A few people in the newspaper industry and have asked me how we did it.

Well, apart from good old-fashioned hard work and a passion bordering on the evangelical, here is what I learned over the course of the last few weeks and months. 

Don’t try and save a print publication unless it is loved by a readership that you, in return, value and respect. When producing said publication don’t ever skimp on quality. It’s a race to the bottom if you do that. For if you cannibalise the end product to save money, what’s the point of saving a substandard offering? 

Don’t try a campaign without at least one large social media platform, which you must use constantly — but in a way that doesn’t alienate your readers and potential supporters. 

Don’t try a campaign without a large newsletter database, in which you can specifically speak to your intended market on a daily or weekly basis.

Don’t forget to give your campaign a boost on your own website. Because if you don’t blow your own trumpet now and then, the orchestra tends to go quiet. 

And finally, don’t try it unless you really care. Because if you don’t really care, then why should anyone else? You have to live and breathe it every second of every day. The rest is down to you, your team, a bit of luck, and the amount of fight you have in you.