Arsenal and Sheffield United pay touching shirt tribute to Met Police Sgt Matt Ratana who was killed in the line of duty

ARSENAL and Sheffield United paid a touching tribute to murdered police sergeant Matt Ratana before kick-off in their Premier League clash today.

Metropolitan Police officer Ratana was shot dead by a handcuffed suspect inside Croydon Police Station on September 25.

Seats at the Emirates were dressed in kits bearing his name as an emotional gesture to mark the tragic death.

One was an Arsenal shirt, another was a Blades one, with a police uniform and a police helmet on a seat in between.

Police officers stood above the shirts in one of the stands at the North Londoners' ground, paying their own silent tribute.

The 54-year-old Ratana was shot as he prepared to search the suspect.

The New Zealander was also a coach at East Grinstead Rugby Club.

The two teams met in the Premier League today.

A joint message from the clubs read: "Sergeant Ratana served in the Hackney area between 2010 and 2015, and was the centrepiece of community policing.

"Our condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues."

Many teams in the UK held a minute silence prior to their games in a mark of respect for Ratana.