CAHILL CLOSE TO GUNNERS MOVE

GARY CAHILL could have been lining up for Arsenal at Wembley today.

The 31-year-old Chelsea star came close to joining the Gunners in the summer of 2011.

Arsene Wenger made two bids to land the centre-back from Bolton – his first £6m offer rejected as “derisory” and his second of £12m also turned down.

Arsenal turned elsewhere and recruited Per Mertesacker, and six months later Chelsea swooped to land Cahill (right) for a bargain £7m.

Cahill, who will lead Chelsea out today as captain, has since won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Europa League, the FA Cup and the League Cup.

“It was close,” said Cahill. “The move broke down on the fee, nothing to do with me. It never got down to whether or not I wanted to go there, it was between the clubs. They showed interest, but they couldn’t agree a fee. It seemed like it went on for ever, there was speculation for about a year and a half. “I had a fantastic time at Bolton but as a player, when you hear the big clubs are sniffing, you want to achieve as much as you can.” Chelsea can clinch the coveted Double if they beat Arsenal and for Cahill winning never gets boring. “It becomes more like an addiction,” he said. “When you get the feeling of winning a trophy, you just want it again and again. “Outside my family and my kids being born, it’s the best feeling ever. It was again when we lifted the Premier League trophy the other day. “You realise your career is short and you just want to achieve as much as you can. If you have no goals, then what is the point of playing?”