22 Thursday, February 2, 2017 SPORTS SPORTS Thursday, February 2, 2017 23 the first half. We made so many bad why because we were prepared. Ivanovic joins Russia’s Zenit rsenal’s Petr Cech said Tuesday’s passes, we lost every challenge, we were “We were on back-to-back Ashock loss to Watford was a “huge simply second best, as I said.” wins, important wins, we had the Drogba repels Moscow desire to return to Russia,” Ivanovic won two Premier setback” to the Gunners ahead of their Cech added: “In the second half we momentum after the Burnley game efensive stalwart Ivanovic, who scored five goals League titles, one Champions meeting with the improved, we had a lot of chances. I and obviously the Southampton game DBranislav Ivanovic in 54 matches for Lokomotiv League, one Europa League, leaders this weekend. thought we were brilliant second half, went completely our way, exactly the ended his hugely successful Moscow in 2006-07 before three FA Cups and one First-half goals from Younes Kaboul but obviously we only scored one goal.” way we wanted.” Chelsea career yesterday joining Chelsea in 2008, told League Cup during his spell and Troy Deeney gave visitors Watford Tuesday’s match saw Arsenal For Watford, a first win in seven when he signed for Zenit Saint the Zenit website. at Chelsea. a quick-fire 2-0 lead in Tuesday’s manager Arsene Wenger continue his league games help them move eight London Corinthians offer Petersburg for an undisclosed “I feel high motivation and He is one of only five foreign Premier League game and although four-game touchline ban and Cech points clear of the relegation zone and The 5 biggest incoming Premier League transfers of the January fee. The 32-year- a desire to continue playing at players -– along with Didier Arsenal pulled one back through Alex insisted they had paid when their a delighted Kaboul said: “In the first transfer window after Tuesday’s final day of player trading Rio de Janeiro move for me at this time,” old Serbian the highest level.” Drogba, John Obi Mikel, Petr Iwobi, the Hornets held on for three veteran French boss questioned if the half they couldn’t live with us. (*denotes fee as reported by British media): ormer Chelsea striker has wrote Drogba. has signed Cech and Gianfranco Zola away points. team were “mentally ready” to face “We were on top of everything from refused an offer to join Corinthians of The club thanked the a two-and- -– to reach the 300-game Defeat left Arsenal nine points Watford. Troy (Deeney) to Heurelho Gomes Gabriel Jesus Fthat would have included generous wages and a player for showing a-half-year landmark for the behind Chelsea ahead of their trip “We had a very bad start,” Cech said. -- all of us were brilliant. We did a almeiras (BRA) to Manchester City, £27 bullet-proof car. an interest. contract Blues. across London to Stamford Bridge on “We were unlucky with the first goal terrific job and it will give us a lot of million* ($33.6 million, 31.3 million euros) The Ivory Coast star, 38, is out of contract with an Chelsea Saturday. when it takes a big deflection and it goes confidence for the rest of the season. P Jesus, 19, agreed to join City last year, but after a spell at Montreal Impact and was offered option of tweeted that “This was a huge setback,” said in. Obviously it gave a lot of hope and “Everyone on the pitch and the did not formally complete his transfer $120,000 (110,000 euros) a week, a 24-hours-per- another Ivanovic, who Cech. “We wanted to put ourselves in a motivation to Watford because this was players who came on did a terrific until earlier this month. The highly day translator, six return tickets to Europe -- and year. has 82 caps better position going into the weekend. something that lifted them,” the Czech job. We couldn’t have started better. rated Brazil forward has made two City a bullet-proof car. “I had a and is captain “I always say that at this level you Republic international added. We could have scored more, we knew appearances to date and registered his Drogba said on Twitter on Wednesday strong of Serbia, was cannot play 80 minutes, or 85. You “But then I think we didn’t play well they would come back first assist in Saturday’s 3-0 FA Cup that he had spoken with the Corinthians “a true Chelsea have to play 90 minutes with full at all. It was too much for us to take in stronger and they win at Crystal Palace. president Roberto de Andrade to legend”. concentration and everybody on top of the first half and it’s very hard to say did.” (AFP) decline the offer. their game. “I’m very honoured... but “We were second it doesn’t feel like the right best in Morgan Schneiderlin anchester United to Everton, £20 Mmillion rising to £24 million Bundesliga After being frozen out by Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, Schneiderlin moved to Everton on a four-and-a-half-year deal. splashes The move reunited the 27-year- old France international with Germany’s Marcel Kittel, Ronald Koeman, who was out record from Quick-Step Floors formerly his manager at Team transfer sum Southampton. Berlin of the Bundesliga’s 18 clubs, based Isak heads a trio of teenage erman clubs shattered the on transfer sums according to talent which Bundesliga clubs Gprevious record in splashing transfermarkt.de, easily beat the want to nurture despite no enk (BEL) to Leicester City, £15 out 97.35 million euros ($105m) on previous record of 65 million euros experience in a top league. Gmillion* fresh talent during the Bundesliga’s set during the 2014/15 season. Promising Jamaican teenager Champions Leicester signed January transfer window. However, the 97.35 million Leon Bailey, 19, joined Bayer international Ndidi, 20, in the hope Bayern , Germany’s euros was dwarfed by the £215 Leverkusen from Belgium’s of plugging the gap left by N’Golo richest club, kept their purse closed million that Premier League clubs Genk. France’s Dayot Kante’s departure to Chelsea last year. but have signed Hoffenheim’s shelled out. Dortmund made one Upamecano, 18, swapped “He’s an impressive player Germany pair Niklas Suele and of the most eye-catching buys Red Bull Salzburg for with a big future,” said Sebastian Rudy for next season. when they snapped up Sweden’s RB Leipzig, who are manager Claudio However Bayern’s rivals took 17-year-old striker Alexander having a stellar first Ranieri. the chance to boost their squads. Isak -- dubbed the next Zlatan season in Germany’s top The combined winter spending Ibrahimovic -- from AIK. flight.

Ras Al Khaimah in the opening 20 kilometres of racing almost level with Manolo Gabbiadini arcel Kittel (Quick-Step Floors) and built up a lead of over four minutes Cavendish, but in apoli (ITA) to Southampton, £14 million* left it late but proved he is the on the flat, 188km stretch to Ras the space of a few pedal N Southampton were the biggest movers on strongestM sprinter at the Dubai Tour al-Khaimah. strokes the entire nature transfer deadline day, shelling out around £14 with his second stage win in two days. Drucker claimed both intermediate of the sprint changed. million to sign 25-year-old Gabbiadini from The German came through a sprints before sitting up and allowing Whereas the road Napoli. The former Sampdoria striker, capped congested sprint to beat Dylan the rest of the break to bask in the opened up for Kittel, six times by Italy, signed a four-and- Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo) glory of the Dubai sun, but their efforts with a smooth passage a-half-year deal. into second once again, with Jakub were once again in vain. This is a race to the line, Cavendish Mareczko (Wilier Triestina) in third. designed for sprinters and only an was left blocked by Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) was extreme miscalculation would upset the Groenewegen, who was English Premier League results: in the hunt for the stage win but found odds. starting to fade just as Results Manchester United 0 Hull 0 himself boxed in just when he appeared Lotto NL-Jumbo briefly looked in Kittel came over the top. 1 Marcel Kittel (Ger) Quick-Step Floors to be moving forward. Kittel’s win trouble when they lost ground inside The Manxman banged his Stoke 1 Everton 1 extends Quick-Step Floors’ impressive the final 3 kilometres as Bob Jungels handlebars in frustration, 2 Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo West Ham 0 Manchester City 4 Patrick van Aanholt start to the season and the German will once again ratcheted up the pace, while once again robbed of the On Tuesday underland to Crystal Palace, £14 million* 3 Jakub Mareczko (Ita) Wilier Triestina wear the leaders jersey on stage 3. He is Bardiani CSF, BMC Racing and Wilier chance to really test himself Arsenal 1 Watford 2 S Former Chelsea defender Van Aanholt, 26, on course to win the Dubai Tour for the Triestina swamped what was already a against Kittel. However, the 4 John Degenkolb (Ger) Trek-Segafredo Bournemouth 0 Crystal Palace 2 joined Palace from relegation rivals Sunderland on second year running. crowded peloton. German will have cared little Burnley 1 Leicester 0 a four-and-a-half-year contract. The Dutchman Once again Kittel could count in Despite a more determined for the Dimension Data rider’s 5 Sacha Modolo (Ita) Team UAE Abu Dhabi Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 played an important role as Sunderland avoided excellent work from his well-drilled opposition, Quick-Step once again got plight. Middlesbrough 1 West Brom 1 relegation under new Palace manager Sam team. They kept the break of Mark their tactics right. They did, however, Although this was a closer 6 Juan Jose Lobato (Spa) Team LottoNl-Jumbo Sunderland 0 Tottenham 0 Allardyce last season. concede the front to Lotto NL-Jumbo affair compared to stage 1, Christian (Aqua Blue), Simone 7 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Dimension Data Andreetta (Bardiani-CSF), Jempy with 1.5km to go and the Dutch squad Kittel still looked the best Swansea 2 Southampton 1 Drucker (BMC), Peter Williams (One were well placed as the final lead-out sprinter on the road. His 8 Riccardo Minali (Ita) Astana Pro Team Scores @ the time of closing Pro Cycling), and Yousif Mirza (UAE men positioned their sprinters but lead-out is supreme but he Abu Dhabi) in check throughout the Kittel, even when there’s still work to be still has the form to finish off the 9 Marco Maronese (Ita) Bardiani CSF day. done, is match for anyone on this form. job. Two from two, he will take some 10 Adam Blythe (GBr) Aqua Blue Sport The five-man move jumped clear He started his sprint on the outside, stopping. (CyclingNews)