Tolu Arokodare ended his personal goal drought, but his strike was not enough as Wolverhampton Wanderers suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Chelsea at Molineux Stadium.
The Premier League clash, seen as an opportunity for Wolves to arrest their poor run of form, was dominated by the visitors, with Cole Palmer’s clinical finishing putting the game beyond doubt before halftime.
Palmer, the England international, scored a hat-trick in just 25 minutes.
He opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 13th minute, added a second penalty shortly after the half-hour mark, and completed his treble in the 38th minute, giving Chelsea a commanding lead heading into the break.
Wolves responded after the interval, with Nigerian striker Arokodare scoring in the 54th minute.
The former Genk forward, starting up front, found the net for the second time in twenty Premier League appearances this season.
While the goal provided a bright spot for Wolves and a boost for Arokodare’s confidence, it proved to be only a consolation, as Chelsea maintained control to secure a 3-1 victory.
The result leaves Wolverhampton anchored to the bottom of the table with just eight points, extending their poor run under Gary O’Neil. Chelsea, meanwhile, consolidated fifth place with 43 points, continuing their push for European qualification.
For Arokodare, the goal is a step toward regaining form after missing the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where Nigeria finished third without him.
The striker remains in consideration for the Super Eagles, having also featured in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Despite Wolves’ struggles, his personal milestone offers a sign of progress as he seeks to contribute consistently to both club and country.
The defeat underscores Wolves’ ongoing difficulties this season, with their search for points at home proving especially challenging against technically superior opponents.
Chelsea’s dominance highlighted the gap between the sides, leaving Wolves with plenty of work to do in the remaining fixtures.
