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Arsenal ace Gabriel sends heartfelt message to Chapecoense coach who was killed in Colombia air crash horror

Arsenal's Brazilian defender Gabriel has delivered an emotional tribute to his late friend Caio Junior, the Chapecoense coach who was one of 71 people killed in a plane crash in Colombia.

The charter jet carrying the Chapecoense team, along with club officials and journalists, to Medellin for their Copa Sudamericana final match against Colombian side Atletico Nacional came down late on Monday night.

The extent of Chapecoense's loss became clear with the confirmed deaths of players and officials of the Brazilian club who were on the flight.

Arsenal's Gabriel has paid an emotional tribute to the victims of the Chapecoense air disaster
Arsenal's Gabriel has paid an emotional tribute to the victims of the Chapecoense air disaster
Gabriel (centre) was a friend of Caio Junior, the Chapecoense coach, who died in the crash
Gabriel (centre) was a friend of Caio Junior, the Chapecoense coach, who died in the crash

Only three players - defender Alan Luciano Ruschel, reserve goalkeeper Jackson Ragnar Follmann and centre back Helio Hermito Zampier Neto - were listed as among the six survivors, as well as journalist Rafael Valmorbida and crew members Ximena Suarez and Erwin Timuri.