Tolu Arokodare: 4 Eredivisie goals at Ajax, but why he must still improve

Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare scored his fourth goal of the Eredivisie season for Ajax in their 1-1 draw against NEC Nijmegen at Johan Cruijff Arena on Satrday.

The goal was a pure big man’s goal. He made a good run into the box and latched onto a cross from Jorthy Mokio before sending a low header into the bottom-right corner of the goal.

His return is impressive, particularly considering that he has played only 346 minutes in the league. But while his goals are helping him make an early impression in Amsterdam, the underlying numbers suggest there is still room for improvement.

Tolu Arokodare dedicated his goal to his teammate Kasper Dolberg who suffered a serious knee injury. Respect. 🙏❤️ https://t.co/Uqm26GIUW1

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) October 10, 2026

Arokodare has registered four goals from 22 shots, with only five efforts hitting the target. He has also created four chances, including one big chance, while completing 75.9 per cent of his passes.

These numbers do not diminish his scoring contribution, but they show why the 25-year-old must develop other aspects of his game if he wants to become a more complete forward for Ajax.

Tolu Arokodare Has To Be A Better Finisher

Arokodare’s four goals from 22 attempts give him a promising scoring return, but his accuracy remains an area to improve.

According to FotMob, only five of his 22 shots have been on target, a rate of approximately 23 per cent. That means many of his attempts have failed to seriously test the goalkeeper, even as he has managed to find the net four times.

Arokodare is converting some of chances, and that is impactful, but he needs to put more of his efforts on target to make his goalscoring threat more sustainable.

His expected goals (xG) of 1.97, compared with four actual goals, also suggests that he has outscored the quality of chances he has received. That is a positive sign of his finishing output so far, but it is a small sample and does not guarantee that the same rate will continue.

The next step is to combine his instinct for finding the net with more consistent shot placement. If he can do that, Ajax could get even more from the chances their attacking play creates.

He must contribute more to Ajax’s build-up play

Arokodare’s job is not simply to score goals. Ajax need their centre-forward to help connect attacks, retain possession under pressure and create opportunities for teammates.

His physical profile gives him the tools to perform that role. Standing at 1.97 metres, he can offer a target for direct passes, compete with centre-backs and bring runners into play. However, FotMob records him winning 18 of his 31 aerial duels, a success rate of 58.1 per cent.

But comsidering his big frame, he should be doing better. His pass completion rate stands at 75.9 per cent, while he has created four chances in the league.

Those numbers do not automatically indicate poor link-up play, particularly for a striker who often receives the ball under pressure. However, they show that his influence as a creator has been more limited than his goalscoring impact.

Improving his hold-up play, the accuracy of his layoffs and his timing when combining with midfielders would give Ajax another way to progress attacks.

It would also make him more difficult to defend against because opponents could no longer focus primarily on denying him chances in the box.