Arsenal: Gary Cahill makes more sense than you might think

Gary Cahill is reportedly a possible target for Arsenal after his playing time has been substantially reduced at Chelsea. It is not exciting, but he would be a signing that makes more sense than you might think.

Like Arsene Wenger, I detest the January transfer window. Stocked full of overpriced, washed-up veterans who want that one last move that they definitely do not deserve, it is a minefield of bouncing betties and roaming Peter Odemwingies. I like that Arsenal rarely partake heavily in it.

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But sometimes, value and production can be found. After all, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would not be in north London right now had it not been for the January transfer window. And that value tends to be a short-term boost for the remainder of the season when a team addresses a key and damaging need.

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Liverpool, for instance, signed Virgil van Dijk last year. They would not have reached the Champions League final without him. Wilfried Zaha kept Crystal Palace up in 2015 after a January move. Daniel Sturridge did the same for Bolton on loan. Jermain Defoe seemingly did it every single year for a different club for about a decade. Value can be found in the January market. You just have to look that much harder.

All this brings me to Gary Cahill. Ever since Maurizio Sarri’s appointment in the summer, Cahill has been an unwanted, unused presence in the Chelsea squad. He has made just seven appearances in all competitions this season, six of them starts. All of the starts have come in either the Europa League or EFL Cup, with Sarri fielding a weakened team. In the Premier League, the true barometer for where a player stands in his manager’s eyes, Cahill has made just one substitute appearance for 21 minutes.

His lack of usage has led to many rumours suggesting that Arsenal may make a move for 33-year-old in the January window. How true these reports are, I have no idea. But for some, even the prospect of signing Cahill leaves a rather nasty taste in the mouth. He is past his best, slowing with every passing day, and far from a long-term solution at a position that needs serious investment, not just stop-gap help.

However, for all that I hate on the January window, I actually think that Cahill makes far more sense than many may realise. He is experienced, intelligent, a leader and character, a very capable defender, with experience of playing in a back four or back three, and someone who understands the Premier League innately. As Arsenal endeavour to squeeze into the top four and qualify for next season’s Champions League, a player like Cahill could be invaluable.

Now, would I want him to start every game? No. Would I want him at the club beyond this season? Probably not? Would I spend more than £5 million on him? No. I would probably see if he is available on a six-month loan first. But he is someone who could be the difference between fourth and fifth, especially given the current injury crisis in defence.

Cahill is far from the perfect signing. But the perfect signing is nigh on impossible to find in January. The winter window is about value, and Cahill offers shed loads of it.