Arsenal boss Unai Emery coached Valencia from 2008 to 2012, taking charge of 220 games. He got them to three third-placed finishes and they qualified for Europe in all four seasons. He got little praise for his trouble but they soon started missing him when he left.

They have had 10 coaches since in just seven years. Of those only Nuno, now at Wolves, and current coach Marcelino have come close to matching Emery's achievements.

While the club suffered under his successors, he led Sevilla to three straight Europa League trophies. And it was on his way to one of those – in 2014 – that he made an enemy of some Valencia fans for life.

Unai Emery will receive a hostile reception when Arsenal face Valencia at the Mestalla

Emery celebrates at the Mestalla after Sevilla beat Valencia in the 2014 semi-final second leg

UNAI EMERY CV Lorca Deportivo 2004-2006 Almeria 2006-2008 Valencia 2008-2012 Spartak Moscow 2012 Sevilla 2013-2016 Paris Saint-Germain 2016-2018 Arsenal 2018- Advertisement

Emery's Sevilla won the first leg 2-0 at home but Valencia took a 3-0 lead in the second leg at Mestalla.

Emery was going out and also faced the sack but on minute 94 Stephane M'Bia scored to put Sevilla through on away goals.

The current Arsenal coach's celebration rivalled David Pleat galloping on the pitch at Luton or Jose Mourinho's knee-slide down the touchline for Porto and it incensed Mestalla who have never forgotten.

He would argue they did not have much time for him before the incident, so it made little difference. His time at the club was marked by an impressive domination of almost everyone in La Liga but a failure to ever beat Real Madrid or Barcelona.

Unai Emery speaks to his players during a training session in Valencia on Wednesday

He also failed some of the club's younger players. Dani Parejo was only 22 but Emery was unable to harness talents that would later see him captain the team and make the Spain squad.

In an interview with Sportsmail today Parejo recalls Emery's penchant for long team-talks – one player even fell asleep according to the Valencia midfielder.

Isco was also emerging at Valencia with Emery on the bench but the coach felt he was too impatient for progress to the first-team and so he went elsewhere to further his career.

Emery oversees Arsenal training on the eve of the Europa League semi-final second leg

In the cast of many Valencia managers in the last decade, Marcelino, Ernesto Valverde and Nuno were all more popular with the dressing room with many of the players. For the supporters there are some fond memories but they are all tainted by that late, late Sevilla winner.

They will give him a fiery reception this evening. The derision will be laced with begrudging respect. Emery has not lost a Europa League knockout match since 2012 and has held the silver vase aloft three times.

When he was Valencia coach they were still third in the historic league table that ranks the top clubs in Spain according to points picked up throughout the history of tournament.

They were overtaken by Diego Simone's Atletico Madrid after Emery left. There are more than a few Valencia supporters who will whistle him tonight on his return that believe that would never have happened on Emery's watch.