'I faced Robinho in my sole Arsenal game – now I'm non-league ace looking for FA Cup upset'
During the FA Cup third round, many Premier League fans will need to keep an eye on one former Arsenal prodigy who once lined up against Robinho
When an 18-year-old Gavin Hoyte was told he would be making his Premier League debut against Robinho, it is safe to say he was a little shocked.
In 2008, the versatile defender had been knocking on the door of the Arsenal first team with his impressive performances in training and the youth teams. He just never would have expected a new money City side boasting the Real Madrid and Brazilian legend to be waiting on the other side.
Fast forward to the present day, Hoyte, 33, is turning out for National League South side Maidstone United. However, the former Trinidad and Tobago international now has the chance to be part of FA Cup history when he and his non-league team-mates take on League One giants Stevenage.
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The setting for their bid to add themselves to the litany of great FA Cup shocks will be the Gallagher Stadium. Maidstone's Kent-based home is made up of four small stands that provide the perfect conditions for havoc on the pitch.
It's completely different to the Etihad Stadium, where Hoyte's one and only Premier League appearance took place. “I remember just going out there, seeing Robinho and thinking about what he’d done to other defenders, hoping he wouldn’t do that to me. But I was full of confidence and I was ready," Hoyte said in a 2021 interview with Planet Football.
At the time, Hoyte was one of three Arsenal prodigies battling for a place in the first team. Hoyte, Armand Traore and Jack Wilshere were brought aside during training and given one last douse of motivation. “When the chance came there were a few injuries and that was it, I was in,” Hoyte added.
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“I remember the training session before the game, one of the coaches said to Armand Traore, Jack Wilshere and me: ‘One of you is going to make your debut, who do you think it is?’ Everyone thought it was either Jack or Traore, no one thought it was me, and then he said: ‘It’s going to be you, Gavin'.
“I don’t think anyone thought too much of it, but then we were doing shape work and I was in there, and I just had to be ready.” Before the game, Hoyte was always involved with first-team training. His weekly preparation for facing stars like Robinho was trying to shackle the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie in training.
However, Hoyte's debut was an afternoon to forget for the Gunners, who were torn apart by City. Robinho got on the scoresheet either side of a goal from Stephen Ireland and a late effort from a young and emerging Daniel Sturridge.
Opportunities at the Gunners proceeded to dry up at terrifying pace. Hoyte would never make another Premier League appearance for Arsenal and would only enjoy three more matches in the first team - all of which took place in the League Cup. His final appearance was a shock 2-0 loss to Burnley in the quarter-finals of the competition.
Over the next five years, he would be loaned to Watford, Brighton, Lincoln City and Wimbledon, before he moved to Dagenham and Redbridge on a free transfer in 2012. Via brief spells at Gillingham, Barnet, Eastleigh and Dagenham again, he joined Maidstone in 2019 and has never looked back.