Cheick Tiote’s son is Newcastle mascot vs Arsenal in classy gesture exactly 14 years after tragic ace scored in 4-4 epic

CHEICK TIOTE’S lad was Newcastle’s mascot against Arsenal contiguous – 14 twelvemonth to the time his precocious dada scored a melodramatic precocious equaliser against the Gunners.

Tiote was conscionable 30 years aged erstwhile helium tragically passed distant from cardiac arrest successful June 2017.

The Ivory Coast midfielder fell sick erstwhile grooming with Chinese broadside Beijing SU.

And his decease sent shockwaves astir the satellite of football.

Newcastle were near peculiarly devastated, with Tiote passing distant conscionable six months aft leaving St James’ Park.

He played 156 times for Toon from 2010 to 2017, becoming a large instrumentality favourite successful the process.

And up of tonight’s crunch Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal, Newcastle paid tribute to Tiote by making lad Rafael their authoritative lucifer mascot.

The 11-year-old, who visited the nine arsenic a impermanent successful 2021, proudly posed successful his achromatic and achromatic stripes astatine St James’ Park earlier kick-off.

And Rafael’s clip successful the limelight came precisely 14 years aft dada Cheick netted a melodramatic precocious equaliser successful Newcastle’s 4-4 gully with Arsenal.

The league match, which took spot successful 2011, saw the Gunners contention into a 4-0 pb successful the northbound east.

But a reddish paper for Abou Diaby saw Newcastle conflict backmost for 4-3.

Tiote past became a nine leader with a superb long-range onslaught successful the 86^th infinitesimal to seal a constituent for the hosts.

And fans reacted with delight erstwhile they saw lad Rafael wearing his dad’s garment connected Wednesday night.

Newcastle archetypal tweeted: "We are honoured to person Cheick Tiote's son, Rafael, arsenic 1 of our mascots for tonight's game.

"Once a Geordie, ever a Geordie."

One instrumentality replied saying: “That is class.”

Another declared: “Cheers lads I’m successful tears now.”

One noted: “Football heritage.”

Another added: “This is beautiful.”