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Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel says that Callum Hudson-Odoi needs to perform well for the next 250 games in order to turn his career around.

The 20-year-old has scarcely featured since Tuchel took charge at Stamford Bridge, but impressed in Chelsea’s win over Malmo in the Champions League and could feature more in the coming weeks following injuries to Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner.

But when asked in a press conference whether this could be a turning point for the better in Hudson-Odoi’s career, Tuchel replied: “The only person who can decide this and answer this question is Callum.

“It’s as easy as that. Is there a turning point? Ok, he needs to prove it. He needs to play the next 250 games on the highest level and then that was the turning point. But is it a turning point if he does a brilliant match tomorrow? No.

“It’s only a turning point if he makes it a turning point – and only if he does not only do one good match, one good half, 60 good minutes, but if he does it consistently,” Tuchel added. “It’s as easy as that with every player.

“Once you do this you will have more minutes. Once you have more minutes you will maybe look back and say: ‘That was a turning point.’ You need to fight for it. You need to deserve it. It must be a perfect fit in a perfect moment. Sometimes you need a bit of luck. But in the end the only person who can answer that question is Callum. And we will support him.”

Hudson-Odoi’s next chance to impress for Chelsea comes in Saturday’s early Premier League kick-off against Norwich City.

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta revealed Emile Smith Rowe has adjusted his lifestyle to aid his football career after the academy graduate shone in the victory over Aston Villa on Friday night.

Smith Rowe – who was linked with a move to Villa Park in the summer – got the assist for Thomas Partey’s opener and scored the third as the Gunners ran out comfortable 3-1 winners at the Emirates, and his manager was full of praise for him after the game.

Arteta also revealed the 21-year-old played the full 90 minutes in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace on Monday despite carrying an injury.

“When you want to take the game to the next level, when you become a real important player in such a big club, that should be the only priority and every detail is important and relevant,” the Spaniard told Sky Sports.

“You have to make him aware of that, you cannot give percentages away that can make big differences and he has changed that.

“Credit to him and obviously the staff here that are all the time monitoring and build that education with him and he’ll only get better.

“He should demand that in his game because he is capable of doing it. I’m pleased that that is developing. He still needs to develop more in other areas as well.”

Speaking about the knock the youngster had picked up, Arteta added: “The other night he wasn’t 100 per cent fit but he stepped forward and he wanted to play with a difficult injury that he had.

“There is no complaining, he is just looking forwards, he is really determined, he has changed the way he is living as well a little bit and some of the habits that he had and he’s been superb.”

The victory over Villa lifts the Gunners to ninth in the Premier League table, level on points with Man Utd in sixth, although Arsenal have played a game more.

Exclusive – Frank Lampard has not applied to be the next manager of Newcastle United, 90min understands.

The 43-year-old has seen his name strongly linked with the role at St James’ Park – but sources close to Lampard have confirmed to 90min that he has not put his name forward.

It is understood that Newcastle’s new owners, led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, had a genuine interest in Lampard and he was encouraged to make a move for the job.

Harry Redknapp is one major figure in English football whose opinion on their manager situation has been sought by Newcastle, and it is known that he gave Eddie Howe, one of the main contenders, a glowing reference.

Redknapp was also asked about his nephew Lampard, and it is no surprise that he was full of praise for him, and that led to some of Newcastle’s hierarchy pursuing a move.

However, despite Newcastle being keen to talk to Lampard, sources insist that the former Derby and Chelsea boss did not think a move to the North East was the right move for him at this moment in time.

Lampard has been out of work since leaving Chelsea midway through last season, and he did talk with Crystal Palace in the summer about replacing Roy Hodgson, but negotiations fell through and Patrick Vieira was appointed.

Newcastle’s managerial search goes on after Steve Bruce left this week, but whose imminent departure was known for some weeks. First-team coach Graeme Jones is currently interim boss and has been told he will be in charge until their Chelsea game at the end of the month, although sources have confirmed that a permanent appointment is expected to be made prior to that.

90min revealed earlier this week that Newcastle had initially narrowed down their shortlist to Howe, Lucien Favre and Paulo Fonseca – all of whom had interviews in recent days.

Former Roma boss Fonseca impressed hugely during his talks, although the club also continued conversations with Howe and Favre and want to get the decision right.

Third parties have put forward the likes of Belgium boss Roberto Martinez and Villarreal’s Unai Emery – but Newcastle would prefer someone out of work as they would not want to become embroiled in any legal battles.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has revealed that he finds it easier to manage Romelu Lukaku than Paris Saint-Germain forwards Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

Tuchel was appointed head coach at Parc des Princes in the summer of 2018 and led the club to their first ever Champions League final in 2020. However, he was sacked in December of that year and joined Chelsea a month later.

The German spoke at length at Gazzetta dello Sport’s ‘Festival dello Sport’ over the international break, with quotes featuring in the newspaper’s magazine on Saturday.

Tuchel discussed the politics of PSG compared to those at Chelsea and what it was like managing a team of superstars.

“They are two completely different clubs with regards to style and organisation,” he said.

“At PSG, I felt I was the Minister for Sport. I had to also manage family members and friends of the stars. At Chelsea, I work much more calmly,”

He also briefly opened up on being Neymar and Mbappe’s boss, insisting: “It’s easier to coach Lukaku than Neymar or Mbappe.”

While Tuchel’s ten-month spell in charge at Stamford Bridge has gone well so far, the back-end of his tenure at PSG was anything but.

He and the club’s sporting director Leonardo often fell out over recruitment, with Tuchel complaining after his first transfer window in France that the squad was lacking in the full-back areas.

When Tuchel asked Leonardo to sign a centre-back ahead of the 2020/21 season, Portugal midfelder Danilo Pereira was brought in, but the 48-year-old made a point of playing him in defence instead before eventually leaving the club on Christmas Eve last year.

An inspired first-half performance helped Arsenal beat Aston Villa 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium.

Goals from Thomas Partey, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Emile Smith Rowe were good enough to fire Mikel Arteta’s side into the top half of the table, extending their unbeaten run to six Premier League games in the process.

The Gunners were fast out of the traps – clearly keen to prove a point to head coach Arteta after throwing away a lead against Crystal Palace on Monday night – and Nuno Tavares, on his first Premier League start, was particularly bright early on.

Villa, meanwhile, looked bereft of confidence and totally at-odds with Dean Smith’s wing-backs system; Arsenal’s relentless pressing ensuring they had no time to settle into the game.

Arsenal were rewarded for their pulsating start when Partey glanced home Smith Rowe’s corner, moments after he’d hit the woodwork from a Bukayo Saka set piece, before referee Craig Pawson awarded a penalty on the stroke of half-time.

Matt Targett was the guilty party, sliding through the back of Alexandre Lacazette, and Aubameyang made it 2-0 – although he had to settle with tucking in the rebound from his penalty after a smart save from Emi Martinez.

Villa changed shape at the break and immediately looked brighter, finally allowing Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins a couple of chances on goal. But a dreadful pass from John McGinn allowed the home side to break away, and Smith Rowe fired home via a deflection off Tyrone Mings.

Arsenal could have added to their advantage as they continued to hold court, before Villa bagged themselves a classy consolation with just under ten minutes to go when Jacob Ramsey placed a laser-like shot into the top corner.

Here’s how both sets of players rated on the night…

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – 8/10 – The speed of Ramsdale’s distribution helped Arsenal dominate the first half. Looks a far more assured keeper than in the past and didn’t deserve to lose his clean sheet.

Takehiro Tomiyasu (RB) – 7/10 – Always available to support Saka, looking to stretch Villa wherever possible. Looks a very good signing.

Ben White (CB) – 6/10 – Galavanted effortlessly through Villa’s spine in the first half and was generally assured. Made a couple of good blocks.

Gabriel (CB) – 7/10 – Led by example and and set the tone for Arsenal’s intense closing down, before having a slight wobble in the final ten.

Nuno Tavares (LB) – 7/10 – A first Premier League start brought about a very encouraging display from Tavares – at both ends.

Bukayo Saka (RM) – 7/10 – Will be a little miffed that he couldn’t slot past Martinez when clean through in the first half, but was inventive on the ball and created plenty.

Thomas Partey (CM) – 8/10 – The kind of display Arsenal fans have been waiting for. Bullied Aston Villa’s midfield into submission.

Albert Sambi Lokonga (CM) – 6/10 – Lacks a bit of finesse, composure and technique in the vital moments, but you couldn’t fault Lokonga’s overall display.

Emile Smith Rowe (LM) – 9/10 – Arsenal’s future will be bright as long as Smith Rowe is among their ranks. Wonderful performance.

Alexandre Lacazette (ST) – 8/10 – Caused Villa all sorts of problems in the first half, dropping into the hole and totally negating any impact McGinn or Douglas Luiz may have.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST) – 8/10 – A little fortunate to see his saved penalty land at his feet, but looked so much better running off the shoulder of Villa’s centre backs. Great flicked assist for Smith Rowe’s goal.

Martin Odegaard (AM) – 6/10 – The tempo of the game seemed to drop after Odegaard’s introduction, through no fault of his own. Did alright.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles (CM) – 5/10 – A quiet 15 minute cameo.

Gabriel Martinelli (ST) – N/A

Emiliano Martinez (GK) – 6/10 – Showed his penalty saving prowess to deny Aubameyang, and was extremely unfortunate to see the rebound fall into his path. Could he have done better with the first? Maybe.

Ezri Konsa (CB) – 5/10 – Pulled from pillar to post in the first half as Arsenal ran riot. Never really recovered.

Axel Tuanzebe (CB) – 4/10 – A torrid opening 45 minutes for Villa saw a swift system change from Smith and a hooking for Tuanzebe.

Tyrone Mings (CB) – 6/10 – The best of Villa’s defenders, but that doesn’t really say much. Did okay in the face of strong adversity.

Matty Cash (RWB) – 4/10 – We’re so used to seeing Cash influence games but he was a bit of a passenger throughout. Kept losing the ball in the first half.

Douglas Luiz (CM) – 5/10 – Crowded out in the first half as Lacazette evaporated any space he may look to work in, but did have a smidge more of an impact after Villa’s change in shape.

John McGinn (CM) – 3/10 – A bizarrely awful showing from McGinn. Didn’t ever match the tempo of the game, was denied any space or time on the ball and lost Partey at virtually every set piece. Sloppy pass allowed Arsenal to counter for a third.

Matt Targett (LWB) – 5/10 – Gave away the penalty, looked a bit hacked off with the referee throughout and didn’t ever get the better of Tomiyasu.

Emiliano Buendia (AM) – 4/10 – Chuntered away to himself after being hooked in the second half but can really have no complaints. System didn’t help him.

Danny Ings (ST) – 4/10 – It’s a bit of a feast or famine scenario with Ings; he delivers the good in spades full or is barely noticeable. The latter was evident here as he struggled to break the shackles of White and Gabriel.

Ollie Watkins (ST) – 6/10 – Got into the game a little more in the second half after drifting out to the left wing. Had a decent effort saved by Ramsdale.

Leon Bailey (RW) – 6/10 – Villa brightened up after Bailey’s introduction saw them revert to a 4-3-3. Drew a few fouls and was the one who looked capable.

Jacob Ramsey (CM) – 7/10 – Placed a superb shot into the top corner after Arsenal failed to clear their lines. Classy.

Anwar El Ghazi (AM) – N/A