Former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor has publicly questioned the confidence of Wolves forward Tolu Arokodare, following the Nigerian international’s missed penalty in Sunday’s Premier League defeat to Crystal Palace.
Arokodare, who joined Wolves from Swiss club Lugano in January for a reported €18.5 million, had a crucial opportunity to equalise late in the first half at Molineux. After being fouled in the box, his resulting penalty kick was struck weakly towards the bottom right corner, allowing visiting goalkeeper Dean Henderson to make an easy save. Wolves went on to lose 1-0, a result that deepens their relegation concerns as they sit 19th in the table.
The incident prompted commentary from Adebayor on Premier League Productions. “When you find yourself in front of the defender, it’s either he fouls you or leaves you to finish the ball,” Adebayor stated. “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.”
The criticism highlights the mounting pressure on Arokodare, who has started just seven league games since his mid-season move and has scored only once for the club. His struggle for consistent form and game time has coincided with Wolves’ poor run, having won just one of their last ten league matches. The penalty miss represents a pivotal moment in a tight relegation battle, where converting such chances is often decisive.
Arokodare’s challenge extends beyond a single missed kick. Adapting to the physicality and pace of the Premier League has proven difficult for the 24-year-old, who previously excelled in the Swiss Super League. His limited impact has led to increased scrutiny on his technique and mental fortitude in high-pressure situations. For Wolves, the need for attacking players to seize key opportunities is acute as the season enters its final stretch.
The episode underscores a broader narrative for the club, where confidence among newer signings appears fragile amidst a fight for top-flight survival.Manager Gary O’Neil now faces the task of bolstering his striker’s belief while managing the team’s immediate fixtures. The coming matches will be closely watched to see if Arokodare can respond to public critique with more assertive performances, as Wolves require a significant improvement in results to avoid the drop.
