I was ready to join Arsenal, says Ba as Chelsea striker emerges from the sidelines

PUBLISHED: 10:21 EST, 17 September 2013 | UPDATED: 12:20 EST, 17 September 2013

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Demba Ba was ready to leave Chelsea to join London rivals Arsenal on transfer deadline day.

The Senegalese striker, speaking ahead of the Blues' opening Champions League match at home to Basle, was set to move across the capital to the Emirates, but manager Jose Mourinho pulled the plug on the deal.

Mourinho did not want Ba moving to a rival, while Ba insisted the potential transfer has no impact on his drive to succeed at Stamford Bridge.

VIDEO Scroll down to see Mourhino's hope for win in Champions League match with Basle

Tough talking: Demba Ba said he was on the brink of joining Chelsea's London rivals Arsenal

Fighting fit: Ba was put through his paces ahead of Chelsea's Champions League clash with Basle

'I was ready to go but it didn’t happen,' said Ba.

'The boss said it. I spoke to him before. I won’t tell you what we said. I told him I would keep fighting for the flag.'

Ba has not appeared in a Chelsea shirt since starting against Aston Villa in the Blues' second game of the season, but insisted he is ready to fight for his place in the side.

Samuel Eto'o started his first match on Saturday against Everton, while Fernando Torres is also ahead of Ba in the pecking order. Romelu Lukaku has joined the Toffees on loan.

Gaffer: Jose Mourinho pulled the plug on the deal, not wanting Ba to join a rival

Jose Mourinho seeks 'early victory' in match against Basel

West Ham United's Demba Ba celebrates after scoring his side's third goal of the game at West Bromwich in 2011

Newcastle United's Demba Ba celebrates his second goal against Everton on September 17, 2012

Different colours: Ba admitted he had not shone for Chelsea like he had West Ham (left) and Newcastle

'It all depends on me.

'If I play good the manager will put me on the pitch and if I don’t perform it will be only my fault.

'I know I haven’t played as good as when at Newc or WHU but I needed time to settle and I keep working hard and I believe the rewards are behind the work.

'If I would have performed as myself I would have played every game and if I didn’t play every game it is because I didn’t play good every game.

'I am a good professional and I keep fighting for what I have.

'Now the matter is the next months and the next years with Chelsea. That’s it.'

Rarity: Ba has featured just once for Chelsea this season, against Aston Villa in the second match of the season

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Shouldn't have left Newcastle

- Donald , London, 18/9/2013 00:19

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Why is it that Chelsea manage to ruin the career of so many strikers? With a midfield like that, being CF should be a doddle. Then they let the likes of Sturridge and Lukaku go? I'm not slagging Chelsea off here, I just can't get my head around it. Although perhaps letting Sturridge go has done the national side a massive favour (if he plays)!

- Realist Football Fan , England, 18/9/2013 00:08

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WEST HAM .....NO THANKS ....

- Sruoypu , notts, United Kingdom, 17/9/2013 23:30

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Good attitude and with only three strikers he will get his chances. Eto only played eleven times last season as his knees are going or at least they were.

- muzzerous , London, 17/9/2013 23:05

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Seems everyone was right that Chelsea got a great deal buying Ba for 7m and selling Sturridge for 12......

- Sean , Liverpool, 17/9/2013 22:30

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With the winter months approaching his team mates will appreciate a 'bench warmer'

- farmer69 , devon, United Kingdom, 17/9/2013 21:56

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Ba agitating for a move again. No surprise there

- AH , Gateshead, United Kingdom, 17/9/2013 21:51

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Man needs some intensive care on dem lips

- Mallydo , Elephant, United Kingdom, 17/9/2013 21:31

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Another wasted career at a moneybags club.

- Beden89 , Edinburgh, 17/9/2013 21:30

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The season changed... the year changed as well.. but one thing that has not, is DM's error prone journo's.. When will someone learn in DM's office that the team name is Basel and not BASLE? Is it that hard?

- Shashwat , Bangalore, India, 17/9/2013 21:03

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