Rico Richards terrorises Arsenal as West Brom trialist is confirmed

West Brom secured their position as Group A winners in the Premier League Cup after a comprehensive 3-1 win over Arsenal.

Rico Richards five minutes into the first half, and Reyes Cleary five minutes into the second, handed Albion a comfortable lead, but the eye catching Omari Hutchinson struck with a quarter of the game to go.

With the game approaching stoppage time, though, Jamie Andrews converted a late penalty to ensure that the Baggies would march into the next round as the clear group winners - and Mo Faal added a fourth deep in stoppage time.

Arsenal were undone by the high press as early as five minutes in. Caught out at the back, Richards - back in the starting XI - intercepted a pass in the Gunners defence and marched through on goal before sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

That was the perfect start to this cup tie, which had so much riding on it for both sides. Arsenal did threaten from distance; Salah Oulad-M’Hand struck a shot from range which didn’t dip enough, while Omari Hutchinson hit the woodwork in both halves.

Albion, though, were deserving of their lead and they too could’ve scored more than the one they managed in the first half. Richards, Rico, was causing havoc on the right hand side and there was plenty of energy from the middle in the form of Toby King and Jamie Andrews.

Caleb Taylor burst forwards on a couple of occasions. Tom Fellows, had he had a clear sight of goal, might’ve gone close after dancing his way into the penalty area.

The second goal did come early into the second period. Richards was sent racing down the right and his pull-back, in the nick of time, was tapped home by Cleary.

Arsenal had threatened, and so it wasn’t the biggest surprise when they eventually did beat Ted