Demba Ba Admits He Could Have Waited for Arsenal Move This Summer

Former Chelsea striker Demba Ba was on the brink of joining Arsenal this summer but insists he does not regret his decision to sign for Besiktas.

Ba, 29, featured in both of his side's games against Arsenal in their Champions League play-off but was unable to prevent the Gunners from snatching a 1-0 aggregate victory courtesy of a goal from Alexis Sanchez on Wednesday 27 August.

The Chilean may be asked to lead his club's attack until the new year after Arsenal's first-choice centre-forward, Olivier Giroud, was ruled out for four months with a broken tibia.

Having been linked with a move to the north London club in the last two transfer windows, Ba could have found himself being lined up to replace the injured Frenchman had he not already made his move to Turkey.

However, the former Newcastle striker insists he has no regrets over his decision.

"I am happy at Besiktas," Ba said following the Gunners' 1-0 win at the Emirates, the Independent report. "How close did I come to joining Arsenal? As close as you and me here, but it is past. I just look forwards.

"Everybody knew that I wanted to come here [to Arsenal]. I could have maybe waited longer in this transfer window but I wanted to go and play for Besiktas because it is a great club."

While Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger maintains the club are still open to making further additions before the transfer deadline on September 1, he has played down the arrival of another striker to supplement the injured Giroud.

Earlier this week, the Gunners boss dismissed interest in Manchester United's Danny Welbeck and former Birmingham City striker Nikola Zigic, while admitting Monaco star Radamel Falcao was out of the club's price range.

And speaking to the press on Friday 29 August, Wenger continued to suggest he was happy with his current options.

"We have Yaya Sanogo, we have Alexis Sanchez, we have Theo Walcott, we have Lukas Podolski," he said. "Joel Campbell can also play as a centre-forward, don't forget."