Tolu Arokodare came to Wolves as what seemed to be a backup to Jorgen Strand Larsen, but in a twist to the season, he now looks to be the Old Gold’s best option up top.
It took a while for the Nigerian to get going at Molineux. Under Vitor Pereira, he started just three games out of nine appearances.
Now, with Rob Edwards at the helm, he has started three games in a row, and in each of them, he has impressed.
But there has been one key strength he has shown that has really made Tolu Arokodare an undroppable member of the starting XI.
WOW 😍. What is your message to Rob Edwards after that performance, Wolves fans?
Tolu Arokodare making the Wolves’ number nine role his own
Tolu Arokodare did not score or assist against West Ham, but that did not mean the Nigerian was not highly impactful.
The striker has offered the Wanderers a lot more than goals, and that is the ability to retain the ball in the forward areas.
Against the Hammers, Tolu was a physical monster and a colossus in his duels against the opposition players.
Be honest: If he was not at Wolves, would you still spend £24 million on Tolu Arokodare?
Is he worth more, less, or the same?
He competed in a total of 12 aerial duels, in which he came out on top in eight of them – a 75% win rate. Additionally, in his ground duels, he lost just one of the six he contested.
This level of physicality helps Wolves keep the ball, and it helps them keep the ball higher up the pitch.
It also allows them to beat the opposition press more effectively, as long balls are a more viable option with the Nigerian up front.
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It will be hard for Rob Edwards to now drop Tolu Arokodare
The level at which Tolu Arokodare wins his individual battles cannot be ignored, and it is a trait that he utterly destroys Jorgen Strand Larsen in.
Larsen, while coming in with a 6’4″ frame, is not exactly the strongest in his duels. Across the season, he holds just a 34.7% duels win rate and a 40.6% aerial duels win rate.
The Norwegian has struggled to make an impact this season, and that has left his future at Molineux up in the air.
Everton are looking at Strand Larsen as an option this window, and Saturday’s opponents West Ham have also held interest.
It remains to be seen what happens with the forward, but one thing is clear: he will find it tough to displace Tolu Arokodare as it stands.
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