Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has paid tribute to former Sussex academy player who died following a "significant brain injury".
Mikel Arteta said his thoughts are with the family of former Arsenal player Billy Vigar, who has died after colliding with a concrete barrier during a match last weekend.
First-team boss Arteta paid tribute to Vigar at his press conference on Friday and said: “It is shocking news.
“Straight away you’re thinking about the family, and how difficult it is to go through something like this in a very unexpected way.
“Hopefully they can understand how it happened, and why it happened, and obviously try to avoid this kind of thing.
“Really sad news, and our thoughts are with the family and all his loved ones.”
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Vigar, 21, was playing for Chichester City FC away to Wingate and Finchley on Saturday when the incident occurred as he tried to keep the ball in play.
He suffered a significant brain injury and was taken to hospital where he was placed in an induced coma. Chichester announced on Thursday that he had died.
Vigar joined the Arsenal academy as a 14-year-old and went on to appear for the Gunners in the EFL Trophy.
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