Tolu Arokodare: Dutch legends settle Ajax first-choice striker debate

Super Eagles forward Tolu Arokodare has been collectively backed as Ajax's first-choice striker by Dutch football legends Rafael van der Vaart, Wim Kieft and Theo Janssen, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Nigerian forward joined Ajax on a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers in July with an option for the Amsterdam club to make the move permanent for €22 million in the summer of 2027.

Arokodare has since emerged as head coach Míchel Sánchez's preferred starter across all competitions, scoring five goals in his eight Ajax appearances across the Conference League and Eredivisie before Van der Vaart, Kieft and Janssen weighed in on his position at the club.

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Van der Vaart: ‘Trust Arokodare and leave him on for once'

Ajax fell to a 1-3 home defeat to PSV Eindhoven on September 5 at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, but Arokodare's individual performance drew widespread praise.

The Nigerian forward equalised for Ajax after 23 minutes before Sánchez withdrew him early in the second half for Dolberg, a decision former Netherlands international Van der Vaart openly criticised.

“I thought that was a strange substitution. Things were going fine and he had scored. Then trust him and leave him on for once,” Van der Vaart said in quotes revealed by Goal.

The former Real Madrid and Tottenham midfielder's public backing will be fresh news for Arokodare, who's looking to put the shadows of his spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers behind him.

Kieft settles Ajax striker debate as Janssen praises Tolu Arokodare

Former Netherlands international Wim Kieft went further than Van der Vaart, formally settling the debate on Ajax's first-choice striker for the time being.

The 63-year-old, who scored 11 goals in 43 caps for the Netherlands, dismissed Marcos Leonardo's early Amsterdam impact and questioned whether Dolberg still had the tools to challenge Arokodare for the shirt.

“With the qualities he has, you also have to judge him that way. He is big and strong, you can play the ball into him,” Kieft said about the lanky Nigerian striker.

“You should not expect him to dribble, but what he has to do, he does extremely well.”

Former Vitesse and FC Utrecht midfielder Theo Janssen added his own analytical praise of Arokodare's playing profile.

“What is nice about this striker is that he can also control balls around the halfway line,” the 45-year-old said.

“He is so calm, can hold people off, lays the ball off simply and then sprints towards goal again.

“He does not have to do any crazy things at all. I really think he is a good striker.”

Van der Vaart, meanwhile, rounded off the panel's assessment with a candid verdict on Dolberg's status, claiming a breakthrough at Ajax is now very unlikely for the Danish striker.

Arokodare suffering from fever

Arokodare has continued to feature for Ajax since the verdict of the Dutch legends, playing 74 minutes in the 5-1 away win over Fortuna Sittard, where his powerful header struck the crossbar for Thilo Kehrer to head home the rebound.

The Nigerian was left out of Ajax's starting XI for Tuesday's Eredivisie meeting with Willem II after Sánchez confirmed the striker had been battling a fever.

Arokodare spent the entire 90 minutes on the bench as Ajax comfortably ran out 5-1 winners at the Johan Cruijff Arena, without needing his services to see off John Stegeman's newly promoted side.

The former Genk ace has now registered two Eredivisie goals and one assist in five appearances this season, alongside three Conference League goals.

Whether Arokodare returns to the starting XI for Ajax's Eredivisie fixture at Excelsior on Saturday, before joining up with the Super Eagles for the September Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, will now be the question for both Sánchez and Eric Chelle to answer.