Arsenal's Chamakh joins West Ham on six-month loan

Arsenal's Moroccan forward Marouane Chamakh has joined West Ham on loan until the end of the season.

The 28-year-old has moved to east London for the remainder of the 2012/13 campaign where he will act as cover for Modibo Maiga during the African Cup of Nations, which begins later this month.

West Ham were first linked with a move for the former Bordeaux striker two-and-a-half years ago during Gianfranco Zola's reign as Hammers boss. However United eventually missed out on a player rated, at the time, at £15million.

Chamakh, who has been training with his new team mates at Chadwell Heath today could be thrust straight into the squad to face Manchester United at the Boleyn Ground tomorrow should his paperwork have been processed in time. However his arrival hasn't been universally welcomed by all involved with West Ham.

David Sullivan's son Jack, who has - presumably with his father's permission - enjoyed the upper hand on transfer scoops in recent windows Tweeted this morning: "I am very sorry about this news: Chamakh has sign a six-month loan deal! Not my pick."