Arsenal Given Answer Over Hopes of Signing Spanish Striker in January

Arsenal's pursuit of Alvaro Morata is seemingly over after the Real Madrid striker committed his future to the club.

Morata is regarded as the Gunners' primary target in the January transfer window with manager Arsene Wenger reportedly seeking a short-term solution to his attacking problems following the season-ending knee injury to Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner's current fitness problems.

However, Wenger is yet to secure any new faces and with less than two weeks of the window remaining concerns are rife that the Arsenal might strike a blank.

And Arsenal's hopes of making that much needed addition this month have been hurt once again after Morata, who came off the bench and scored in Real's 5-0 win over Real Betis, stated he wished to remain in Spain.

"Despite everything that is being said, I'm happy here. I want to stay," Morata said.

"I have spoken with the coach and the club, and I talk every day with my team-mates. I have been at this club for my whole life and it is the best in the world.

"The best are here and I want to help when I am needed. If I have to help by playing a few minutes here and there, I'll do it, but it's even better if I get a few more.

"There are a lot of things being said, but I want to stay here and keep working hard and improving."

Morata is the latest player to be put out of Arsenal's reach after Salomon Kalou and Dimitar Berbatov were declared not for sale by their respective clubs Lille and Fulham.

Kalou, the former Chelsea forward, is regarded as a key component of Lille's season and Berbatov, who has reportedly fallen out with new coach Rene Meulensteen, were heavily linked with moves to Arsenal, who require support for Olivier Giroud ahead of the sharp end of the season.

The north Londoners lead Manchester City by a point in the race for the Premier League title with 16 league games remaining.