Ian Wright’s actions on Arsenal comeback threatened to derail club legend’s testimonial against Real Madrid

Lee Dixon’s testimonial against Real Madrid descended into chaos – all thanks to Ian Wright’s cheeky pre-match antics. The Gunners celebrated Dixon’s 11 years of service in November 1999, with Spanish giants Los Blancos invited to be their opponents at Highbury. Dixon was given his testimonial by Arsenal in 1999 against LaLiga giants RealRex Wright came off the bench in the second half in what was his Arsenal comebackRex Arsenal legends including Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira, Freddie Ljungberg and Emmanuel Petit all started. While a star-studded Real line-up consisted of Roberto Carlos, Clarence Seedorf, Steve McManaman and Fernando Morientes, with Raul, Samuel Eto’o and Iker Casillas all starting from the bench. An incredible turnout of 22,486 fans attended the Monday night affair, which saw the north London outfit triumph as 3-1 winners. And supporters certainly got more than what they bargained for prior to the clash. Back in N5 after departing following the double-winning 1997/98 season, Wright was in a jovial mood as his club paid homage to their iconic right-back. As the Arsenal players were getting ready for kick-off, Wright opened up the changing room windows – which opened up onto the street outside. Wright, who was plying his trade in Scotland at Celtic at the time, played up to his adoring fans by asking if they wanted a present. And much to the horror of kit man Vic Akers – out went two of the shirts from their star forwards. To the delight of the gathering hordes, the jersey of Dutch winger Marc Overmars was tossed into the crowd. The shirt of ex-Real Madrid striker Davor Suker, who was named in Arsene Wenger‘s starting XI, then followed, with it still being on its hanger. Dixon received a plaque from then-Real president Lorenzo Sanz at HighburyRex Wright was making his first Arsenal appearance since departing north London in 1998Alamy A catalogue of world class stars all featured in the testimonial While Arsenal fans battled to grab the strips, Akers went into panic mode. He had to dash to the club shop to pick up replacement shirts, before having to get them printed with new names and numbers. It meant that kick-off for the testimonial was delayed by 20 minutes. But no Arsenal fan held any grudge over being made to wait longer than expected in the stands. Wright at the time was the club’s record scorer before Thierry Henry, who was left out of the testimonial squad, overtook him in October 2005. And he was given a hero’s welcome when he replaced Suker in the 70th minute – earning the biggest cheer of the night. Dixon played 616 times for Arsenal between 1988-2002 – winning four league titlesGetty Only Henry has scored more goals for Arsenal than fan favourite Wright Unfortunately for Wright, he failed to roll back the years and get on the score sheet on what turned out to be his night instead. But Dixon had no complaints, as he quipped: “It was very nice for me to play in Ian Wright’s testimonial!” In a first half that Mikel Arteta will be dreaming of when Arsenal welcome Real to the Emirates on April 8 for the Champions League quarter-final first leg, the hosts went into the break 2-0 up. Vieira broke the deadlock in the 13th minute, with Bergkamp doubling Arsenal’s lead four minutes before the interval. Stefan Malz made it 3-0 in the 72nd minute, before Christian Karembeu pulled one back moments later. But while Wright made his Arsenal comeback, his former strike partner Nicolas Anelka failed to be included in the Real squad. Vieira fired Arsenal in front against Los Blancos with a volley from close rangeGetty Anelka, whose introduction into the Arsenal first team in 1997 led to Wright being sold to West Ham, joined Madrid just months prior to Dixon’s testimonial for around £22.3million. However, injury saw him miss out on the encounter, which saw Dixon earn roughly £300k. While Arsenal went on to crash out of the Champions League in the group stages following the match, Real went on to lift the title. And the Gunners know that they must overcome the Spanish giants once again should they wish to scoop their first European Cup.

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Ian Wright’s actions on Arsenal comeback threatened to derail club legend’s testimonial against Real Madrid

Lee Dixon’s testimonial against Real Madrid descended into chaos – all thanks to Ian Wright’s cheeky pre-match antics.

The Gunners celebrated Dixon’s 11 years of service in November 1999, with Spanish giants Los Blancos invited to be their opponents at Highbury.

Dixon was given his testimonial by Arsenal in 1999 against LaLiga giants Real

Wright came off the bench in the second half in what was his Arsenal comeback

Arsenal legends including Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira, Freddie Ljungberg and Emmanuel Petit all started.

While a star-studded Real line-up consisted of Roberto Carlos, Clarence Seedorf, Steve McManaman and Fernando Morientes, with Raul, Samuel Eto’o and Iker Casillas all starting from the bench.

An incredible turnout of 22,486 fans attended the Monday night affair, which saw the north London outfit triumph as 3-1 winners.

And supporters certainly got more than what they bargained for prior to the clash.

Back in N5 after departing following the double-winning 1997/98 season, Wright was in a jovial mood as his club paid homage to their iconic right-back.

As the Arsenal players were getting ready for kick-off, Wright opened up the changing room windows – which opened up onto the street outside.

Wright, who was plying his trade in Scotland at Celtic at the time, played up to his adoring fans by asking if they wanted a present.

And much to the horror of kit man Vic Akers – out went two of the shirts from their star forwards.

To the delight of the gathering hordes, the jersey of Dutch winger Marc Overmars was tossed into the crowd.

The shirt of ex-Real Madrid striker Davor Suker, who was named in Arsene Wenger‘s starting XI, then followed, with it still being on its hanger.

Dixon received a plaque from then-Real president Lorenzo Sanz at Highbury

Wright was making his first Arsenal appearance since departing north London in 1998

A catalogue of world class stars all featured in the testimonial

While Arsenal fans battled to grab the strips, Akers went into panic mode.

He had to dash to the club shop to pick up replacement shirts, before having to get them printed with new names and numbers.

It meant that kick-off for the testimonial was delayed by 20 minutes.

But no Arsenal fan held any grudge over being made to wait longer than expected in the stands.

Wright at the time was the club’s record scorer before Thierry Henry, who was left out of the testimonial squad, overtook him in October 2005.

And he was given a hero’s welcome when he replaced Suker in the 70th minute – earning the biggest cheer of the night.

Dixon played 616 times for Arsenal between 1988-2002 – winning four league titles

Only Henry has scored more goals for Arsenal than fan favourite Wright

Unfortunately for Wright, he failed to roll back the years and get on the score sheet on what turned out to be his night instead.

But Dixon had no complaints, as he quipped: “It was very nice for me to play in Ian Wright’s testimonial!”

In a first half that Mikel Arteta will be dreaming of when Arsenal welcome Real to the Emirates on April 8 for the Champions League quarter-final first leg, the hosts went into the break 2-0 up.

Vieira broke the deadlock in the 13th minute, with Bergkamp doubling Arsenal’s lead four minutes before the interval.

Stefan Malz made it 3-0 in the 72nd minute, before Christian Karembeu pulled one back moments later.

But while Wright made his Arsenal comeback, his former strike partner Nicolas Anelka failed to be included in the Real squad.

Vieira fired Arsenal in front against Los Blancos with a volley from close range

Anelka, whose introduction into the Arsenal first team in 1997 led to Wright being sold to West Ham, joined Madrid just months prior to Dixon’s testimonial for around £22.3million.

However, injury saw him miss out on the encounter, which saw Dixon earn roughly £300k.

While Arsenal went on to crash out of the Champions League in the group stages following the match, Real went on to lift the title.

And the Gunners know that they must overcome the Spanish giants once again should they wish to scoop their first European Cup.