'It's hurtful' - Pained Super Eagles star Arokodare speaks out after clever goal vs lucky Arsenal

Nigeria Super Eagles star Tolu Arokodare has finally broken his silence following one of the most emotional nights of his career on Saturday night.

Arokodare netted a 90th-minute equaliser at the Emirates Stadium that seemed destined to earn Wolves a famous point against the Premier League leaders, only for cruel fate to snatch it away moments later.

The Nigerian striker's omission from the Super Eagles squad by head coach Eric Chelle had been a source of quiet controversy among football fans back home. 

Rather than letting rejection define him, the 24-year-old chose to channel his disappointment into his performances. On Saturday evening at the Emirates, he delivered his most emphatic response yet.

Arsenal, riding high at the top of the Premier League table, were heavy favourites against Rob Edwards' struggling Wolves side. Yet for 70 minutes, the Gunners found themselves frustrated by a resilient defensive display that defied the gap in the league standings.

When the breakthrough finally came, it was far from convincing. A fortunate deflection off Wolves goalkeeper gave Mikel Arteta's side the lead, a goal that felt undeserved given the visitors' spirited resistance.

With the clock ticking into stoppage time and Arsenal fans already celebrating what seemed like three hard-fought points, substitute Tolu Arokodare produced a moment of magic. His first Premier League goal couldn't have been more perfectly timed or more significant. 

Football, however, has a cruel sense of timing. Just moments after Arokodare's equaliser, Arsenal snatched victory from the jaws of a draw. 

A cross from Bukayo Saka was inadvertently turned into his own net by Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera, breaking hearts and securing three points for the title chasers.

Speaking after the match, a visibly disappointed Arokodare opened up about the emotional rollercoaster of the evening and Wolves' recurring late-game struggles.

"It is hurtful," the striker admitted honestly. "It has been happening to us all season. We played the whole game so well but at the end we always concede. It is not the first time we have conceded in the last minute; we have to start focused until the final whistle."

His words captured the frustration of a Wolves side that has repeatedly come close to results against top opposition, only to be undone in the dying moments. 

The pattern has become a painful theme of their seaso, resilient performances undermined by lapses in concentration when it matters most.

Despite the heartbreak, Arokodare refused to dwell solely on the negative. His maturity shone through as he assessed the broader picture of Wolves' performance against the league leaders.

"There are a lot of positives to take," he insisted. "We have played against the best team in the league. Their first goal was lucky from a corner and we came back. We need to focus on the good and not the bad."

It was a telling statement from a player who has faced his own share of setbacks, from international rejection to a challenging debut season in the Premier League. 

His ability to find perspective, even in defeat, speaks to a mental resilience that will serve him well.

Arokodare didn't hold back in his assessment of Arsenal's performance, describing their opening goal as "lucky from a corner." 

It was a fair observation, which Bukayo Saka agrees with, the deflection off Sam Johnstone that gave the Gunners the lead was hardly the clinical finish expected from title contenders.

That Wolves fought back from that setback, only to concede another fortuitous goal through an own goal, added to the sense of injustice felt by Edwards' side.

While Arokodare's post-match comments focused on the team's performance and recurring issues, his display on the pitch spoke louder than any words. 

Against Premier League leaders, in front of 60,000 fans, with the weight of international rejection on his shoulders, he delivered when it mattered.

His first Premier League goal may have come in a losing effort, but it announced his arrival on English football's biggest stage.

As Wolves regroup ahead of their next fixture, one thing is certain: Tolu Arokodare has announced himself in the Premier League. Whether Eric Chelle and the Super Eagles take notice remains to be seen.