Arsenal’s hopes of signing David Villa look to have been dashed as Barcelona president Sandro Rosell insists the Catalan club want to keep the player until the end of the season at least.

Quoted by @EurosportCom_EN: – Rosell said, “I reject absolutely the transfer of Villa in the January window. He is ours and we need him.”

Arseblog News is aware that there was definite interest on both sides, but that now appears to be dead in the water following Rosell’s comments.

Barcelona sit top of La Liga, 11 points clear of Atletico Madrid, and they don’t really need him so obviously this is revenge for Hleb, and possibly Alex Song.

Meanwhile, the Gunners have been linked with Chinese striker Nao Huan and Russian defensive midfielder Yuri Avinalaf.