Chelsea Striker Reveals he Wanted Arsenal Move

Chelsea striker Demba Ba has admitted that he was keen to move to Arsenal on deadline day but made it clear that he is now fully committed to the west London club.

Ba joined Chelsea in January as the club looked to find an alternative to Fernando Torres but he would score just twice in 14 Premier League appearances and failed to find his best form.

When Jose Mourinho returned to Chelsea it seemed the Senegal international may have become surplus to requirements, especially when a deal was completed for Samuel Eto'o to make the move to Stamford Bridge.

The 28 year old was heavily linked with a loan move to Arsenal towards the end of the summer transfer window but eventually stayed after Mourinho decided to allow Romelu Lukaku to join Everton on loan for the season.

"I was ready to go and to play there (at Arsenal), but it didn't happen," Ba told the Independent. "I think I'm a good professional, and I've always worked hard to deserve what I have. Until today I will keep doing the same.

"I told him (Mourinho) if I stay I will keep fighting for the club and for the side. That's it. Now what matters is the next months, the next years with Chelsea and that's it."

There was a sense that Ba would have received more playing time at Arsenal as there would have been less competition for places, with Nicklas Bendtner the only real alternative to first choice forward Olivier Giroud.

However, now that he has remained at Stamford Bridge he will be hoping to impress Mourinho in order to gain more regular chances in the first team.

"I wanted to play and I want to play," added Ba. "It all depends on me and it depends on the performance I'm going to put on the pitch.

"If I play good, I think I will deserve to play and the manager will put me on the pitch, because that's how he is. If I don't perform it will be only my fault."