Tolu Arokodare has 4 goals in 3 games: Why is Chelsea great Ruud Gullit still not convinced?

Tolu Arokodare has given Ajax fans plenty to celebrate since his move from Wolverhampton Wanderers, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Nigeria international has scored four goals across his last three appearances, turning a slow start into a sudden burst of attacking production.

His run began with a goal and an assist in just 17 minutes against Sion on August 20. Seven days later, he scored twice in Ajax’s 5-3 home win over the Swiss side. The former Genk forward completed the run with another goal in a 4-0 Eredivisie victory at Telstar.

Those numbers make Ruud Gullit’s criticism sound surprising. The former Netherlands star is not questioning Arokodare’s ability to finish chances. His concern is what happens before the chance arrives, especially when Ajax are building attacks and the striker has to read the next pass.

Gullit believes Arokodare can do more to help Ajax progress the ball. His main complaint is that the 25-year-old can be too static, instead of moving early when the position of the ball gives him a clue about where the next pass could go.

That is an important distinction. A striker can score regularly and still have parts of his game that need work. Arokodare now has a chance to prove that he can give Ajax goals while also becoming a striker who reads situations one step ahead.

Gullit’s problem with Arokodare’s movement

Gullit’s example came from a situation in which Ajax were building from the right in their clash against Telstar. The Ajax right-back was under pressure and, according to Gullit, the obvious escape could have been a long ball. Yet Arokodare stayed in the middle.

“The opponent is building up on the right side,” Gullit noted while doing punditry duties on Ziggo Sport per SoccerNews.

“The Ajax right-back comes under pressure and really should be playing the long ball. And then I see him (Tolu) still standing in the middle. Then I thought to myself: How is that even possible?”

Gullit believes Arokodare should recognise the danger before the ball is played. If the right-back is likely to go long, the striker should already be preparing to attack the space on that side.

“You have to start thinking: if that ball is going to come, it will end up on that side, on the right. So I position myself in advance so that if that right-back comes under pressure and plays a long ball, I can move to that side. But the ball is played down the side and he is still standing in the middle,” Gullit said.

Anticipation is the missing piece

This is where Gullit’s argument becomes more than a complaint about running. He wants Arokodare to read the game before the ball reaches him. The striker should study the defender’s position, see where the pressure is coming from and adjust his position before the pass is made.

Gullit says the same principle applies to defenders. The best defenders often do not need to make tackles because they anticipate where an attacker wants to go. His point is that strikers need the same skill. Arokodare’s next step is to make movements that create options for Ajax before the ball arrives.

A complete Ajax striker needs more than goals

Arokodare’s physical profile gives Ajax a different attacking option. He is 1.97 metres tall and joined on a season-long loan from Wolves with an option to buy.

That height can make him a useful target when Ajax need to play directly. But he also needs to connect those long balls to the rest of the attack and move into positions where teammates can find him.

The numbers already suggest that he can make an impact. The next challenge is making himself part of more attacks before the final pass.

Gullit’s criticism does not erase what Arokodare has done. Four goals in three appearances is a strong response from a player who arrived in Amsterdam after a difficult spell at Wolves. But the Nigerian can answer the criticism in the best possible way and that is with smarter movement.

If Arokodare starts anticipating where the ball is going, moves into useful spaces earlier and becomes more involved in Ajax’s build-up, he will offer more than goals. That could turn an exciting scoring spell into the complete striker Ajax hoped they were signing.