Tolu Arokodare says he wants to make a difference whenever he gets a chance. The Nigerian striker scored two goals in his first start for Ajax during their 5-3 win over FC Sion on Thursday, as reported by PUNCH Sports Extra.
When asked why coach Míchel Sánchez gave him his first start, Arokodare simply said, "The reason was that the coach decided I would start."
The 25-year-old believes his selection is part of the rotation in Ajax's attack. He said, "I think it was my turn. You have seen that there is a kind of rotation with Kasper and Leo, so maybe this weekend or next weekend it will be Kasper or Leonardo again. The coach decides."
Even after scoring two goals, Arokodare stressed that his main goal is to help the team whenever he plays. He said, "I try to help the team and make an impact in every way I can, whether I play or not, whether I start or not. In the end, it is simple: if the team wins, we all win. That is what matters."
His performance also caught the eye of former Netherlands international Rafael van der Vaart. Van der Vaart thinks Arokodare brings more to the team than just being an option from the bench. He said, "Everything is going against his competitor Leonardo, and he just swings at the ball and scores."
The former Tottenham player also praised Arokodare's heading skills. He added, "I feel like he doesn’t lose any aerial duels either. Great impression."
Arokodare opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time and completed his brace in the 51st minute. Ajax won 5-3 on the night and moved on to the Conference League phase with a 9-5 aggregate score. Arokodare was substituted shortly after the hour mark and received a standing ovation from the fans.
With this brace, Arokodare now has three goals and two assists in five matches across all competitions since joining Ajax this summer.
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