Demba Ba was very close to joining Arsenal on deadline day this summer in a season long loan deal – the player has now come out and confirmed these reports.
Ba told the media ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League group-stage opener against Basel: “I think the boss [Mourinho] spoke about it,”
“I spoke to him before [the move] and I can’t tell you what we said on the phone.
“But I said if I did stay that I will keep fighting for the club. That’s what happened. This is football. I was ready to go and play there [at Arsenal] but it didn’t happen. I think I’m a good professional and I’ve always worked hard to get what I have.
The Senegal striker has insisted he will still give his all for Chelsea now that he has remained with the club: “I wanted to play and I want to play. It all depends on me and my performances on the pitch. If I play good, I’ll deserve to play and the manager will pick me. That’s how he is.”
In the end Arsenal never managed to sign another senior striker to provide back-up to Olivier Giroud, and so Chuba Akpom and Yaya Sanogo will have to be on stand-by incase of any injury to Giroud this season.