BBC claim Ba to Arsenal is dead

The idea of loaning Demba Ba to Arsenal (or, indeed, Tottenham Hotspur) was greeted by most Chelsea supporters with a certain amount of skepticism. After all, the Gunners have been a direct rival for Champions League qualification for the past two seasons, and strengthening your rivals isn't generally a good idea.

Apparently, the Blues agree:

Demba Ba's proposed season-long loan from Chelsea to Arsenal is OFF. #Cfc have decided they do not want to sell to a rival #bbcfootball #afc

— David Ornstein (@bbcsport_david) September 2, 2013

They did loan Victor Moses to Liverpool earlier, but Arsenal are much closer to being a serious title threat than the Reds are, and apparently giving them a starting-calibre centre forward was a bridge too far, loan fee or no. I'd still be expecting him to depart today, but right now we have absolutely no idea where he'll end up.

Chelsea are, remember, one over their international allocation, so someone's heading out. But if it is Ba, it won't be to Arsenal or Spurs.

More from We Ain't Got No History:

• Report: Palace aren't pursuing Chalobah loan
• The final three hours of deadline day are upon us, come join us at WAGNH
• Report: Demba Ba deal agreed with "unnamed team," not Arsenal or Tottenham
• Everton looking for Romelu Lukaku loan, according to reports
• Rumoured PSG bid for Mata never happened -- Sky Sports