Tolu Arokodare emerged as a leading figure at Ajax

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Tolu Arokodare was reported to have become Ajax’s top scorer with 12 goals and a popular figure among the Amsterdam supporters. Coach Míchel Sánchez praised the 25-year-old striker’s personality, team spirit and close relationship with his teammates, while Arokodare described their relationship as one of tough love. He also showed support for the injured Kasper Dolberg and encouraged struggling teammate Marcos Leonardo rather than viewing him only as a rival for a place in the team.

Arokodare said that playing in the stadium made him happy and that he had regained his confidence after scoring only three times during a difficult loan spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers the previous season. He said his aim was to spread love and peace, drawing on his Christian faith and his own experiences of loneliness early in his career. Ajax were due to play FC Twente later that day.

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Ajax’s Conference League win at FC Midtjylland

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Ajax beat FC Midtjylland 6-1 away in the Conference League. Tolu Arokodare opened the scoring, but Friday Etim equalised for the Danish side. Midtjylland were reduced to 10 men before half-time when Kjell-Arik Wätjen received a second yellow card. Arokodare restored Ajax’s lead after the break and also provided an assist. Owen Wijndal, Davy Klaassen, Oscar Gloukh and Marcos Leonardo added the other goals. The match started late after a problem with the stadium lights during the warm-up. Ajax’s next Conference League match is at home to FC Thun.

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Kick-off review of Ajax and the Eredivisie weekend

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A new episode of the football podcast Kick-off reviewed the latest Eredivisie weekend. Ajax won, but its performance was said not to have convinced, and the panel criticised coach Míchel Sánchez’s tactics while discussing Amrabat’s value to the team. A message from Wout Weghorst to commentator Valentijn Driessen was also relayed.

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PSV’s 7-0 win over Willem II

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PSV beat Willem II 7-0 at the Philips Stadion in the Eredivisie. Mauro Júnior opened the scoring after about 20 minutes and Guus Til made it 2-0 before half-time. Sven Mijnans, Ruben van Bommel, Ricardo Pepi, Kodai Sano and Shuryjano Cornecion scored after the break. Pepi scored on his return from injury, while Cornecion registered his first goal for PSV’s first team. Willem II, playing its first match under returning coach Jurgen Streppel, remained on two points from 11 matches. PSV benefited from Feyenoord dropping points against Fortuna Sittard and is now two points behind the league leaders.