After it emerged this morning that Arsenal were in for out-of-favour Chelsea forward Demba Ba on a possible loan move, the deal now looks to be dead.

According to several journalists, with such a big name signing, Arsenal are now a rival and Chelsea have no need to let the Senegalese leave. The striker will most likely remain at the West London club, though a move to Everton or Roma remains on the cards.

Arsenal short in attack

Demba Ba is by no means a world class centre-forward, but the deal would have addressed an area where Arsenal are in desperate need of improvement.

Olivier Giroud has declared several times this month that he hopes Arsenal will bring in another striker. The on-form Frenchman stated that “it is necessary for the club to recruit another striker”. Giroud has begun the season in terrific form, scoring four in five games, yet he may not be able to sustain this throughout the season, and any injury would leave the club with Yaya Sanogo as first choice.

Bendtner as backup

More worryingly, the news indicates that Nicklas Bendtner may remain at Arsenal after all. The Danish striker arrived at Crystal Palace earlier in the day but left after fifteen minutes. The Palace co-chairman Steve Parish then appeared on Sky Sports News saying his club were keen on Bendtner, but any deal hinged on Arsenal’s ability to find a replacement.

The remaining two and a half hours of the transfer window will prove crucial to Arsenal’s season. Jeremy Wilson of the Telegraph believes Arsenal are now unlikely to bring in a striker, a shame as signing Mesut Ozil and a centre-forward would be a real signal of intent.

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