Wolverhampton Wanderers suffered another Premier League setback on Saturday as Chelsea secured a 3-1 victory at Molineux, with Cole Palmer's hat-trick proving decisive. Despite the disappointing result, Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare highlighted the positive contributions of two new teammates who made their club debuts in the match.
Arokodare's Post-Match Praise for New Signings
Speaking after the final whistle in an interview published on Wolves' official website, Arokodare reserved special praise for Deadline Day acquisitions Angel Gomes and Adam Armstrong. The Nigerian forward described their performances as "exceptional" and emphasised how seamlessly they integrated into the team despite their recent arrival.
Arokodare stated: "I think we all saw them today – they were both exceptional. That shows the quality they bring to the team. I'm very, very happy for them on their debuts for the team, how they played, how they performed. They played like they've been here the whole season, like they've been training with us the whole season. You can see how they blended in well, they've been amazing in training, and hopefully more of this is to come from them."
Managerial Endorsement of Debut Performances
Wolves head coach Rob Edwards echoed Arokodare's sentiments when discussing the impact of the new signings. Edwards, who oversaw significant squad changes during the January transfer window that included Jorgen Strand Larsen's £48 million departure to Crystal Palace, expressed particular satisfaction with Armstrong's £7 million arrival from Southampton.
Edwards told BBC Match of the Day: "We'll learn a lot. We're going through a process, we've got to make some changes. We've done that in the window with people leaving, the lads coming in were excellent, Adam [Armstrong] and Angel [Gomes] were really good. Real positives for us. I thought they were brave, worked incredibly hard, showed lots and lots of quality."
The manager provided specific analysis of each player's contribution, noting Gomes' creative influence and Armstrong's work rate and link-up play that resulted in an assist for Arokodare's consolation goal.
Relegation Battle Intensifies Ahead of Forest Clash
The defeat leaves Wolves in a precarious position in the Premier League table, now sitting 18 points from safety with just their second league victory of the season remaining elusive. Despite showing improved form around the New Year period, the team faces mounting pressure as the relegation battle intensifies.
Wolves now prepare for a crucial midweek fixture against 17th-place Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Wednesday night. This match represents what many consider a must-win encounter if Wolves are to maintain any realistic hope of avoiding relegation this season.
Arokodare emphasised the collective approach needed moving forward, stating: "Now I'm not really thinking about myself. I'm thinking more about the team, because if the team is doing great, then I'll be doing great too. The individual performances, they come second, the team comes first."
The performances of Gomes and Armstrong provide some encouragement for Wolves supporters ahead of this critical relegation six-pointer, though the team will need to convert promising individual displays into much-needed points against Forest.
