It is hard to imagine anyone in Colchester who would be happier to see the U’s topple Tottenham Hotspur in The Emirates FA Cup on Saturday than Alex Gilbey – except perhaps his dad.
Gilbey is a Colchester lad through and through, joining the club aged 13 and now vice-captain at 21, but his footballing loyalties will always be split between the Essex outfit and Arsenal.
He has been a Gunners fan as long as he can remember – something he inherited from dad Scott – and Gilbey admits drawing Spurs in The Cup got his heart racing.
Colchester United v Tottenham Hotspur
The Emirates FA Cup
Fourth Round Proper
1.30pm, Saturday 30 January 2016
Colchester Community Stadium
Live on BT Sport
Winners receive £90,000 from prize fund
By Paddy von Behr
Now the midfielder is bringing an army of family members to the Colchester Community Stadium on Saturday, where Kevin Keen’s side will do battle with the Premier League high fliers in front of the BT Sport cameras.
"The whole family are Arsenal fans, especially my old man, so he can’t wait for the game," said Gilbey.
"I think everyone is looking forward to it. I have got 15 family members coming to the game.
"I couldn’t have wished for a better draw. The dream is to beat Tottenham for Arsenal, but to do it for Colchester would be pretty special too.
"It’s The FA Cup, so you never know what could happen."
While Colchester are struggling near the foot of the League One table, Tottenham are in the thick of their first genuine top-flight title chase for decades.
They beat Leicester City in a third-round replay to earn their trip to Colchester and though the Foxes currently sit at the Premier League summit, Gilbey was always hoping to line up against Spurs.
"Tottenham are a massive side, a massive club, and they are flying in the league this year," he continued.
Emirates FA Cup highlights: Colchester United 2-1 Charlton Athletic
"No disrespect to Leicester but Tottenham are a bigger club, so everyone is looking forward to welcoming them into town.
"I have watched quite a lot of Tottenham this year. I’m always watching Match of the Day and they have been very good all season.
"No matter who they put out, it’s going to be a good side and they are going to want to come out and win."
Tottenham’s squad is packed with talent and their depth has been evident all season.
However, it would be appropriate to see Gilbey – tipped by Keen to be playing top-flight football inside three years – to line up against Dele Alli, who has spectacularly leapt from League One to Spurs and the England team this season.
"I would like to go up against Christian Eriksen because he is brilliant," added Gilbey. "Then you have got guys like Eric Dier. If you want to be the best, you have got the play the best.
"I played against Alli a couple of times and even then you could tell he was a top player. He deserved his move and he has justified the move. He has bossed it and he is scoring goals for England.
"He has shown that it can be done. Sometimes it can take one good game and if you look at players like Dele, then you realise what is possible."
