LONDON -- Arsenal sacked Unai Emery because they feared he was sending them into the wilderness. As it turns out, it didn't stop him.
Emery's Villarreal side advanced to the Europa League final with a 0-0 draw at Emirates Stadium, earning a 2-1 aggregate win they deserved for being the better organised, more purposeful outfit in both legs of this semifinal.
As Villarreal's substitutes and staff streamed onto the pitch at full-time, Emery allowed himself a double-fisted shake of his arms before walking in a different direction to the rest, across the touchline to Mikel Arteta for a commiserate handshake.