David Villa Not Joining Arsenal, Say Barcelona

Villa Won't Be Joining Arsenal, Say Barça

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has warned Arsenal to forget about signing striker David Villa during the January transfer window.

The Gunners are expected to strengthen their squad this month, having already offloaded Moroccan misfit Marouane Chamakh on a six-month loan deal to West Ham.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is said to be keen on Villa, who was a substitute for Barcelona's 4-0 win over Espanyol at the weekend.

Rosell, however, maintains the 31-year-old, signed in a £31million deal from Valencia in 2010, is going nowhere.

Villa is not a first-teamer at Barça

Speaking to Catalan radio station RAC1, Rosell said: "I completely rule out the transfer of Villa during the winter market.

"He is ours and we need him, there is a lot of the season left."

Arsenal are also reported to be in for Atletico Madrid frontman Adrian Lopez, while Wenger is claimed to be looking at further midfield options, with Anderlecht's Argentina international Lucas Biglia said to be on his radar.

Sao Paulo, meanwhile, are confident they can turn Denilson's loan move into a permanent transfer.

Denilson has not played for Arsenal since March 2011

Arsenal now head into a crucial run of fixtures which could define their season.

Following a dramatic 2-2 draw at Swansea in the FA Cup, the Gunners face a replay next week just a few days after Premier League champions Manchester City come to Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal then travel to Chelsea on January 20, before tackling West Ham in their rearranged Boxing Day fixture, which is followed by a possible FA Cup fourth-round tie at Brighton ahead of the visit of Liverpool.

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