The Gunners looked set to sign the striker on loan during the January transfer window last season but the deal fell through, with Blues boss Jose Mourinho unwilling to strengthen a rival club without having sufficient cover.
Ba eventually made an £8 million move to Besiktas, who were narrowly beaten 1-0 over two legs by the Gunners in a Champions League play-off.
"I'm happy at Besiktas," he told reporters after the game. "How close did I come to joining Arsenal? As close as you and me here, but it's past. I just look forwards.
"Everybody knew that I wanted to come here [to Arsenal]. I could have maybe waited longer in this transfer window but I wanted to go and play for Besiktas because it's a great club."
Despite Mourinho's unwillingness to let Ba join Arsenal last January, the striker says that the Blues boss would have sanctioned a switch to the Emirates Stadium this summer.
"Yes, [he would have let me join Arsenal], because this time Jose told me," he explained. "Last summer he wanted to keep me,but he said this time, if I had any opportunity, he would let me go."
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