According to a recent report by the Daily Mirror, Arsenal are considering a move to secure the services of former Chelsea captain Gary Cahill who is a free agent after his contract at Stamford Bridge ran out at the end of last season. 90min (via the Daily Mirror) has also stated that the Gunners could face stiff competition from their fellow London rivals West Ham United and Crystal Palace along with Aston Villa in pursuit of the English defender in this off-season.
Cahill’s Underwhelming Season With Chelsea
Cahill only managed to earn 21 minutes of playing time in the Premier League during Maurizio Sarri’s reign as the Pensioners boss last season. Thus, he had no choice but to become a free agent in the hopes of a change of scenery this summer.
The English defensive ace is about to embark upon the twilight years of his playing career, so he needs to play regular first-team football as his time as a player is slowly but surely coming to an end.
Why Should Arsenal Consider Recruiting Cahill
The Gunners can benefit from acquiring the talents of an experienced centre-half like Cahill. His wealth of experience and know how to secure major trophies will add a winning mentality to Unai Emery’s squad. Moreover, the 33-year-old could also prove to be a positive influence in the Arsenal dressing room as he is a natural leader and doesn’t have a problem in motivating others around him.
Hence, the North London giants should consider signing the ex-Bolton Wanderers centre-back for free this summer. The veteran defender featured in a total of eight matches for the Pensioners in the last term; however, most of his appearances came in the cup competitions. He has also represented England in 61 international matches and has scored five goals for his country so far.
Is Cahill The Right Fit For Emery’s Side?
At 33, Cahill still has atleast a couple of years left in him to feature at the highest level, so it makes sense for Arsenal to take a gamble on him since he is available for free. The English defender will be a low-risk acquisition who could turn out to be an excellent asset for Emery.
The addition of Cahill will not only improve the Gunners’ squad depth but will also increase competition for players such as Shkodran Mustafi, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Laurent Koscielny and Rob Holding in the upcoming campaign. Thus, we can conclude that he will a good fit for the North London heavyweights as long as they sign him on a short-term contract.
