Arsenal not interested in signing Newcastle star

Arsene Wenger has rejected suggestions that Arsenal will move for Newcastle striker Demba Ba during the January transfer window.

Ba has a £7.5 million release clause written into his contract with Newcastle, and there has been speculation that Arsenal would swoop for the Senegal international when the transfer window opens next month.

Arsenal have struggled for goals this season following the summer departure of captain Robin van Persie, but Wenger is not interested in bringing in Ba alongside the likes of Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski.

Ba will have the opportunity to display his credentials of Saturday when Newcastle meet Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, although Wenger will simply be trying to ensure his team claim a victory.

"If you ask 'do we sign him?' I say no," the Arsenal boss told a press conference. "It is not right to speak about him because he plays against us tomorrow."

Ba has scored 11 Premier League goals for Newcastle this season, compared to a combined nine for Arsenal's summer acquisitions Giroud and Podolski.

Along with Ba, Arsenal have also been linked with Gunners legend and Barcelona star David Villa in Wenger's apparent search for goalscoring reinforcements.