Former Premier League standout Emmanuel Adebayor has expressed serious reservations regarding the current form of Wolves forward Tolu Arokodare, claiming the striker appears lost on the pitch. Speaking as a pundit for Premier League Productions, the retired Togo international scrutinized Arokodare’s performance after the Nigerian failed to convert a vital spot-kick during Wolverhampton Wanderers’ 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday. The miss proved pivotal, as it denied Wolves a first-half equalizer and ultimately contributed to their third consecutive league loss.
The incident occurred late in the opening half at Selhurst Park when Wolves received a penalty following a foul on Mateus Mané. Arokodare stepped up but produced a low, unconvincing strike that Crystal Palace captain Dean Henderson anticipated and gathered with ease. Adebayor, who ranks among the highest-scoring African players in English top-flight history, noted that such a tentative execution indicates a deep-seated lack of self-belief within the 25-year-old forward.
“When you find yourself in front of the defender, it’s either he fouls you or leaves you to finish the ball,” Adebayor said. “Tolu [Arokodare] shows a lack of confidence and doesn’t know what he is doing. You cannot take a penalty like that in this kind of game.”
Despite the growing scrutiny, Wolves manager Rob Edwards defended his leading striker after the final whistle, emphasizing that Arokodare remains the team’s designated penalty taker. However, the miss arrives amid a challenging season for the Nigerian, who has struggled to replicate his prolific Belgian form since his summer move from Genk. With Wolves currently languishing at the bottom of the table with only nine points, the pressure continues to mount on the forward line to improve their conversion rate.
The defeat to Palace was further compounded by a red card for Ladislav Krejčí and reports of racial abuse directed at Arokodare on social media following the match. Wolves have since issued a statement condemning the “disgusting” attacks and offering full support to their player. As the club prepares for a crucial West Midlands derby against Aston Villa, Arokodare faces a significant test of character to reclaim his composure and prove his legendary critic wrong.
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