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Cardiff honour Emiliano Sala ahead of Arsenal clash

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Players and fans paid tribute to the missing Cardiff striker Emiliano Sala and his pilot Dave Ibbotson ahead of the match against Arsenal at the Emirates

Cardiff honoured their missing striker Emiliano Sala before the Premier League match against Arsenal on Tuesday.

Cardiff's players, management and staff wore yellow daffodils on their clothing while travelling to the Emirates, ahead of their first game since the plane carrying record-signing Sala and pilot David Ibbotson went missing over the English Channel last week.

A Cardiff fan wears a yellow daffodil in honour of Cardiff's missing Argentinian player Emiliano Sala
Image: A Cardiff fan wears a yellow daffodil in honour of missing striker Sala

Sala's name was included in the Cardiff squad listed in the matchday programme, with an image of a daffodil where his squad number would be.

The list of players on the back of the Arsenal v Cardiff match programme includes in the name of missing Argentinian player Emiliano Sala
Image: The matchday programme at the Emirates included Sala's name

Sol Bamba led Cardiff out onto the pitch before laying a bouquet of daffodils in the centre circle, while Mesut Ozil laid tulips before a minute's reflection was held in the stadium.

All seats in the away end had yellow placards, which were held in the air before kick-off, while there was an image of Sala on the big screen with the message '#prayforsala'.

Cardiff players honour their missing striker Emiliano Sala at Arsenal
Image: Cardiff and Arsenal players both honoured Sala with a minute's reflection

However, Cardiff players did not have daffodils sewn onto their match shirts and will not wear black armbands at the request of Sala's family.

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Arsenal gave an unexpected tribute to missing striker Sala in their pre-match programme ahead of facing Cardiff

An underwater search is set to begin for the missing plane carrying Sala and Ibbotson this weekend with funding for a private air and sea rescue mission secured after the official efforts were brought to an end.

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