From hero to bench: Arokodare relegated days after first goal as Spurs' Paulinha shatters Wolves hearts

Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare, fresh off his first Wolves goal in midweek, was surprisingly relegated to the bench as Tottenham shattered Wolves’ hopes of a first win of the season.

Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare, who scored his first goal for Wolves in a midweek Carabao Cup clash, was surprisingly benched in a heartbreaking 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur. 

The young forward was a spectator for most of the match as his team came agonisingly close to their first Premier League win of the season, only to be denied by a dramatic late equaliser from Spurs' Joao Palhinha.

Arokodare, fresh off his heroics in the cup, was kept on the sidelines and only entered the fray in the 83rd minute, replacing Jorge Strand Larsen. 

His brief seven-minute cameo wasn't enough to secure a result for Wolves, who had fought valiantly throughout the match.

Despite a lively first half performance from Spurs' attacking trio of Destiny Udogie, Mohammed Kudus, and Xavi Simons, it was Wolves who struck first. 

In a chaotic sequence following a corner won by Jackson Tchatchoua, a series of failed clearances from the Tottenham defense allowed Santiago Bueno to react fastest, smashing a rebound past goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. 

The goal marked a significant milestone, as Bueno became the 136th player to score their first Premier League goal against Tottenham, a testament to the club's defensive struggles in recent years.

The match looked set for a Wolves victory, but late drama, a theme of the day in the Premier League, was yet to unfold. With the clock ticking down, Spurs were awarded a free-kick. 

A perfect tee-up from Pape Sarr found João Palhinha, who, in a moment of sheer emotion and brilliance, placed a shot perfectly into the far corner. 

The last-gasp equaliser sent the Spurs fans into a frenzy and left the industrious Wolves team heartbroken.

The draw brings Wolves their first point of the season, but it's a bittersweet result. For a team desperate for a win, the late concession feels like a loss. 

For Tottenham, the point is a welcome reprieve, snatching a result from the jaws of defeat. 

For Arokodare, the benching raises questions about his role moving forward, but his midweek heroics suggest he will have more opportunities to shine.