Alan Pardew: Arsenal 'got the response they expected' to Jonny Evans bid

The Gunners are thought to have made an offer worth up to £12million which was immediately given short-shrift by the Baggies.

Evans’s future was the subject of constant speculation throughout January, with Manchester City also holding initial talks with Albion over a possible deal.

But Pardew had repeatedly warned the Baggies were unlikely to sell if an offer was received in the final days of the window.

“It wasn’t for lack of warning to Arsenal and to all the clubs,” he said.

“I’ve sat here every week saying don’t make a bid on the last day, because you’re not going to get what you want, really.

“Unless it’s a bid that’s going to knock us off our chair, and it was no way near that. So they got probably the response they were expecting with that bid, I think.”

Evans missed Wednesday’s 3-0 defeat at Manchester City with a hamstring injury.

Pardew is hopeful the Northern Ireland international will be ready for Saturday’s showdown with Southampton, though he remained coy on the availability of several players.

Kieran Gibbs, Hal Robson-Kanu, Jake Livermore all missed the game at City, while Gregorz Krychowiak was forced off during the first-half with injury.

“I don’t want to give Southampton any clues,” said Pardew.

“Jonny is a very very important player. He is a great player. He is part of the spine of the team and that’s what I tried to strengthen this window.

“Jonny Evans hasn’t moved on and we brought Daniel Sturridge to strengthen that area right through the middle of the pitch. I don’t know which of the two was more important.”