By Jim Van Wijk, Press Association

PUBLISHED: 08:05 EST, 8 January 2013 | UPDATED: 11:31 EST, 8 January 2013

Out of favour: Villa is behind Alexis Sanchez and Pedro in the pecking order

Out of favour: Villa is behind Alexis Sanchez and Pedro in the pecking order

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has told Arsenal to forget about signing striker David Villa this month.

The Gunners are expected to strengthen their squad this month, having already offloaded 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 for 31million deal from Valencia in 2010, is going nowhere.

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 man Lucas Biglia said to be on his radar.

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

On the radar: Argentina and Anderlecht midfielder Biglia (right)

On the radar: Argentina and Anderlecht midfielder Biglia (right)

Arsenal now head into a potentially season-defining run of fixtures.

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

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.

But defender Per Mertesacker feels the Gunners can meet their busy schedule head on.

Positive thinking: Mertesacker is looking for Arsenal to kick on

Positive thinking: Mertesacker is looking for Arsenal to kick on

He said: 'We are in a good way but we have to keep our focus on these games [against Manchester City and Chelsea] and the knockout stages of the Champions League. We have to win those games now.

'We are always looking to win something and we can achieve something with this group. We have a lively group so our thoughts are now on the next match, that is the most important thing for us, not what's going to happen in May.

'We have a few targets in our team that are possible this year. We won't talk about it, we'll just see what happens in the next few important weeks on the pitch.'

The comments below have not been moderated.

Nasri was definatly not leaving to City, Fabregas definatly not going to Barca. Now we need a few of our players to talk up Villa, unsettle him and force the move. Deja vu?

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Get Adrian, Koke, Isco, Munain or Jesus Navas.. and yes, i play football manager 2013!

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The whole Arsenal squad should each release a seperate story about David Villa to every English newspaper - if Barca wanted a player that is what they seem to do.

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I'm not surprised the Barca president is upset. I mean, imagine trying to unsettle a player to convince him to sign for you whilst he's playing for another team!! That would go totally against the spirit of fair play and moral justice that Barcelona have demonstrated down the years!

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It's an attempt to bump his price up. Barcelona know that they don't really need him. However Arsenal will not pay above the market for someone whose 31. 8-12million would be adequate.

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Personally as a united fan I believe he will end up going to arsenal . As soon as I heard that he was a transfer target I thought he would suit them down to the bone and wenger needs to try and get him in

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WWell done Mertesacker!!! We need this kind of attitude!!! Glad to know the morale in the dressing room is high,, with Walcott to.sign d contract,, I think it is very important to keep a positive outlook!!! Well done Mertesacker,, ur comments show that u actually care abt dis club!!!

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So happy that Barcelona is thinking about what is good for Arsenal......

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Bacelona will never sell their star player to Arsenal, but the current Arsenal board will sell their player to any club that is willing to match their valuation - there lies the different !!!!

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Stop kidding yourself, Mertesacker. Are you being honest when you say that you guys can achieve something with this group? Your defense is so leaky and you guys made scoring against Arsenal look so easy for opponents. Gervinho and Ramsey are a different class from Henry and Febragas but AW just won't admit it. As long as he still stubbornly believes in them, giving them chance after chance after chance and refuse to add strength to the squad, Arsenal can jolly well bid goodbye to next season's Champions League not to mention winning any trophy this season.

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