Arsenal supporters may be divided on the best performance since Unai Emery became manager, but I am in no doubt about his most impressive display.

It came in the pre-match press conference before this week’s Europa League win over Vitoria SC, Emery offering an impassioned defence of his reign and plans to move the club forward.

This is the Emery many expected when he replaced Arsene Wenger - animated, feisty, ready to throw a few punches for himself and his club. It is the Emery we have not previously seen at Arsenal, showing qualities his team lacks. We need to see and hear it more.

It has been a problem for Emery getting his message across to supporters in his dealings with the media. As an Arsenal fan you would worry if this is replicated behind closed doors with the players.

All the points Emery made on Wednesday must have been burning inside him for months and it is a pity it has taken serious criticism in the wake of the defeat to Sheffield United to prompt a reaction. He could and should have done this earlier to reassure those who are understandably confused about the direction of the club, argue key decisions have been taken without a clear explanation of the strategy behind them, and crave to know as much as possible about their manager’s perspectives on a range of issues so they can get on board.

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It is pleasing to hear Emery so passionate, even if I did not agree with a lot of what he said, especially when he argued Arsenal are more competitive now than under Wenger.

That is the problem. It has been the same under Emery as in the years before Wenger’s departure.

Emery is correct to point out the current predicament is not that bad. Had Arsenal beaten Sheffield United on Monday night they would have gone third, a point behind Manchester City.

They have a winnable set of fixtures immediately ahead and a successful run will give the Premier League table having a different complexion.

Yet the suspicion lingers another abysmal performance is in the post. It is the fact Arsenal had the chance to make a statement at Bramall Lane and failed so appallingly that is the essence of the frustration. Too much deja vu.

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Emery was brought in because there was a sense of Arsenal treading water under Wenger - able to go so far only to trip when it mattered. It is well documented what had to change. They desperately needed steel to go with the silk. Even during Wenger’s worst moments prior to his exit, no-one ever accused Arsenal of lacking a football identity. They were often beautiful to watch at The Emirates. The problem was they were flaky on their travels and untrustworthy against the strongest opponents. They often worked their way into a position to challenge for the title before predictably fading.

Wenger’s determination to build a team of technically sound footballers was undermined in his later years by his inability to create a side as adept without the ball. That is where I most expected improvement under Emery.

Emery still needs to show he can be the modern upgrade on Wenger, making his players more tactically versatile and - perhaps more importantly - mentally and physically tougher and defensively resolute.

Arsenal appointed Emery because they were seduced by his Europa League victories with Seville, following the logic that the manager who made a habit of winning that competition was perfect for a club that had just dropped into it.

It was thought that Unai Emery (left) could be the modern upgrade on Arsene Wenger (right) credit: getty images

But closer analysis of Emery’s career exposes why he still has a lot of convincing to do. Although Emery won a hat-trick of Europa League titles with Seville, he did so at the expense of top-four status in La Liga. That puts huge pressure on winning the Europa League, which he almost did in his first season before - yet again - Arsenal failed to turn up when it mattered in the final against Chelsea. That was the moment supporters started to ask questions.

His Seville side finished 5th, 5th and 7th in those seasons they won European silverware. More significantly, in the year of his last victory he did not win a single away game in La Liga.

It is a trend he has not reversed in England. Emery has won eight of his 24 away games in the Premier League, keeping two clean sheets - a shocking fact. There is no busier goalkeeper in the top flight than Bernd Leno this season. Not since 2003 has an Arsenal defence conceded so many efforts on their goal at this stage of a campaign.

Earlier this season Watford managed a staggering 31 shots in a single game against Arsenal - a Premier League record. They are more vulnerable than ever.

Arsenal's defence was overwhelmed against Watford credit: reuters

To be most damning, the bad habits have not been eradicated, they have spread. When a top-four finish was in the club’s grasp at the end of last season, a 3-2 defeat to this weekend’s opponents Crystal Palace finished that ambition.

No-one was demanding a radical culture shift with Arsenal abandoning Wenger’s attacking beliefs, but we certainly hoped for more than witnessed so far.

What are Arsenal supposed to be? A more consistent version of Wenger’s side? Are they a pressing or counter-attacking team?

Take out the goals of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and the last 12 months would be more disconcerting.

Now the club is entering another key period, after which it will become clearer if Emery is capable of changing perceptions of this Arsenal team.

Between December 15 and New Year’s Day, Arsenal face Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United. They also travel to Everton. There will be no patience for repeated lacklustre away days.

Arsenal have been over-reliant on their forwards bailing them out credit: getty images

At least the Emery we saw in that press conference in midweek showed he was up for the battle.

I have always felt a football team is an extension of the manager’s personality. If Emery was as animated to his players, it is no coincidence Arsenal fought back to win on Thursday night, with the signing the coach spoke most highly of - Nicolas Pepe - finally showing his class with two brilliant goals.

When Wenger left, Arsenal needed to find a truly great manager if they were seriously going to challenge Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.

In Emery, they settled on a good, steady, experienced one. That sounds like damning with faint praise.

If he is going to last beyond the three-year contract he was given at The Emirates, this is the season he must prove he is much better than that.