It is seven years since the late Phil Gartside reposted a Twitter message from a Bolton Wanderers fan that read: “Arsenal, are you taking the p---? £6million for Gary Cahill, f--- right off.”

As Twitter outbursts go, it remains one of the best but Gartside and Bolton were forced to sell Cahill to Chelsea six months later for just £1m more than the figure former manager Owen Coyle had described as “derisory.”

That “derisory” £7m turned out to be one of the bargains of the Premier League era for Chelsea and one of the biggest misses in Arsenal’s recent history.

So it is puzzling that Cahill’s absence from the Chelsea squad, let alone the team, over the first four games of the season has raised barely a mention.

Cahill only had six months remaining on his contract by the time Chelsea made their move in January 2012, which is why Bolton had to relent.