Arsenal and Cardiff honour Sala with daffodil tribute

Arsenal and Cardiff City have paid tribute to missing striker Emiliano Sala by handing out daffodils with the match programme at the Emirates Stadium.

Guernsey Police have ended their search and rescue operation for Sala, who was on board a Piper Malibu aircraft with pilot David Ibbotson when the plane went missing en route to the Welsh capital from Nantes last Monday.

Sala became Cardiff’s club-record signing the weekend before and the 28-year-old’s family have since been able to restart the search thanks to a crowdfunding effort.

Tuesday’s Premier League trip to Arsenal is Cardiff’s first match since Sala disappeared, and the Welsh club’s staff and fans are expected to wear yellow daffodils.

Arsenal have paid tribute to missing Cardiff City striker Emiliano Sala on tonight’s matchday programme for the game at Emirates Stadium. pic.twitter.com/IhiVvJsQnd

— Omnisport (@OmnisportNews) January 29, 2019

The flower will also be handed out alongside the official matchday programme, which lists Sala as part of Cardiff’s squad, with a daffodil where his number would have been.

Cardiff chief executive Ken Choo explained the use of the daffodil on Friday, highlighting its significance for both Wales and Nantes.

“It is a yellow flower, the flower of Wales and has significance to Nantes,” he said. “We feel for FC Nantes, their fans and players.

“They definitely know Emiliano better than we do and it is tougher for them at this point in time.”