Tony Roberts has survival and a quadruple on his mind

For the 41-year-old is fighting to keep Dagenham and Redbridge in League One, while also helping Arsenal secure a remarkable quadruple.

His day job is to stand between the posts for Dagenham, a position he has filled for an incredible 11 years. During the week, however, he will be found at Arsenal's training ground passing on his knowledge to Lukasz Fabianski and Co in his role as the club's assistant goalkeeping coach.

On the surface it looks like he certainly has reason to enjoy one more than the other. At Arsenal he gets to work with some of the world's best players as they challenge for four major trophies this term, yet the club he plays for are languishing at the bottom in the third tier of English football — eight points from safety.

But Roberts is loving every minute of his double life and said: "I am fortunate to be in a position where I experience both spectrums of football life. Anyone would want to still be playing at my age but I also get to work for one of the best clubs in the world.

"Arsene Wenger is trying to get the club back to winning trophies. Sometimes I have to pinch myself because I am standing there among top players and coaches and learning so much. But I'm also amazed to still be playing in front of big crowds.

"There are not many people who have the kind of hopes I have for the rest of the season.

"I want Dagenham to stay in League One and Arsenal to win the Carling Cup, Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League! You have to reach for the stars."

Some may feel that Roberts is being slightly over-optimistic on both fronts but this is a man who has every reason to think positive because in 1998 he was told he would have to retire from the professional game at the age of just 28 due to a severe finger injury.

He explained: "I'll never forget when the doctor told me I'd lose my finger if I didn't stop. It came as a massive shock and I was thinking, What am I going to do now?'

"But it did me a favour. I got my coaching badges and ended up working with the Queens Park Rangers first team. Now I have a great job at Arsenal. Some players don't do their badges until after they stop playing."

As it transpired, his freak injury only kept him out of the game for a short time after doctors in America designed a cast which could fit around the damaged finger and still sit inside the glove.

He joined Dagenham and Redbridge in 2000 after spells with QPR and Millwall and has been with them as they went from being the nearly men of the Conference to winning entry to the Football League in 2007 — and then to League One via the play-offs last summer.

Roberts's length of service means that he is just 18 games away from hitting the 500 mark for the club and he is certainly not feeling the affects of his advanced years.

"There is no reason to retire just because you reach a certain age," he said. "I have told the manager, John Still, Don't think of me as 41, think of me as 25 and if I'm performing then play me'.

"I only do two-three days of training at most but my work with Arsenal makes me stay in shape anyway because of the things I have to do.

"I hope to reach the 500-game landmark sometime this season and I always take a decision on my future season by season.

"If I wake up one morning and feel I can't be bothered any more then obviously I'll stop but I said to someone last year that I could play until I'm 50. It was said in jest but you never know."

He is also refusing to give up hope Dagenham, who play at Hartlepool on Saturday, will be able to stay up this term.

"Last year we were miles away from the play-offs at one stage and we got promoted," he said.

"We had a late surge, picked up loads of wins home and away. We have 24 games left so there is no panic yet. Our position in the table doesn't lie but we have dropped points we shouldn't have and I'm sure we can win many more games."