Chris Lepkowski bemoans Hal Robson-Kanu substitute in West Brom v Arsenal
Chris Lepkowski lamented the substitution of Hal Robson-Kanu as West Brom were relegated after a 3-1 loss to Arsenal on Sunday night.
Albion’s fate was finally sealed at the Emirates Stadium as the Gunners hammered the final nail in their Premier League coffin.
The visitors had plenty of shots but the only one to hit the target was Matheus Pereira’s consolation goal as their lack of cutting edge proved to be their downfall once again.
Only three clubs (Sheffield United, Fulham and Burnley) have scored fewer Premier League goals in the 2020/21 campaign, and former Birmingham Mail journalist Lepkowski believes that was summed up in Big Sam’s first substitution against Arsenal, as Robson-Kanu came on for Mbaye Diagne.
He wrote on his personal Twitter profile, “Allardyce bringing on HRK has hints of ‘this is what you’ve made me work with’ about it.”
Dearth of quality
Lepkowski isn’t wrong.
The lack of quality centre-forwards at the club is alarming, evidenced by Pereira’s 10 Premier League goals that is double the next best of five from Callum Robinson.
Diagne has been the number one option since his January arrival but he has only struck three times while Karlan Grant only has one, and none under Big Sam.
Even worse, however, is the record of Wales international Robson-Kanu who has failed to score in 16 Premier League appearances this season.
They’ve all been from the bench but his lack of impact and goalscoring nous has been obvious to all.
The chances of him finally making his mark against Arsenal appeared minimal, so perhaps Big Sam really was sending a message to the Albion board that he will need major reinforcements if he is to stay on at the club and lead them in the Championship.
In other West Brom news, ‘Clubs keeping an eye’ – Pundit makes claim about future of ‘Phenomenal’ Albion defender.
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