Premiership: Seaman cashes in at testimonial

Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman could only watch as Barcelona won his testimonial match 2-0 - but the veteran England stopper’s consolation prize is around £600,000.

That is about the amount before expenses the 37-year-old will collect after his testimonial match against the Spanish giants at Highbury last night.

In a surprisingly competitive affair, Seaman - just four games short of his 500th Arsenal appearance - had a busy night before coming off to a standing ovation from 33,297 fans eight minutes from time.

But he was even called upon to break up a punch-up during the second half, when Gunners defender Lee Dixon exchanged blows with Dutch winger Boudewijn Zenden after a shocking tackle by the Barcelona player.

But referee Dermot Gallagher, clearly trying to keep the spirit of the game, did not send off either player although Zenden was immediately substituted shaking hands with Seaman and giving him an apologetic hug before sheepishly leaving the field.

The kick-off had been delayed by 15 minutes to accommodate thousands of latecomers paying between £15 and £31 a head.

Arsenal were two goals down in the first 15 minutes.

Both were scored by Spanish international striker Alfonso who tapped in the first, saw his second helped into the net by the diving Seaman and then missed a sitter for his hat-trick before the interval.

Seaman, who will donate a chunk of his testimonial takings to the Willow Cancer Foundation set up by his Arsenal goalkeeping coach Bob Wilson, even raced upfield for a free-kick in a bid to reduce the Gunners’ arrears but drove his shot into Barcelona’s defensive wall.

The Catalan side, fielding a mixture of first-team and reserve players but including former Arsenal favourites Marc Overmars and Emmanuel Petit, were up for the game right from the start despite still having three La Liga matches left to play in their quest for a Champions League place next season.

And defender Sergi hit the crossbar with a ferocious drive in the 57th minute as the visitors continued to have the better of things against an Arsenal side without the likes of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Kanu, Ashley Cole and Martin Keown.

Seaman, who will be 38 in September, has agreed a new one-year contract with Arsenal which he has promised to sign in the next few days despite the club’s bid to sign Feyenoord’s Polish international goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek in a £5m deal.