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In the latest top-flight news, a key midfielder was given a substantial ban, a manager has pointed to a defender's errors to prove a point, and Pep Guardiola has called for backline improvements after an erratic win.

1. Mejbri Handed Four-Match Ban and Financial Penalty

Burnley's player Hannibal Mejbri was issued a four-game suspension and a £15,000 penalty for misconduct in October's fixture versus Leeds United. The governing body said Mejbri was referred a separate regulatory commission after allegations where he spat in the direction of visiting fans at the 67-minute point of a 2-0 victory by Burnley.

A statement read: “An independent Regulatory Commission has punished Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri for his actions during their top-flight game with Leeds of 18 October. The charge was that he acted in breach of the rules of football or in a poor way and/or engaging in offensive and indecent conduct through spitting towards the direction of Leeds United supporters.”

It continued, “Mejbri subsequently accepted the allegation, with the Regulatory Commission imposed a four-game ban and £15,000 after proceedings. The Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for its decisions will be published in due course.” The team, currently 19th in the Premier League standings, visit 12th-place Newcastle on Saturday.

Maresca Points to Adarabioyo's Mistakes to Prove an Argument

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has argued that not having experience is no a problem at club, pointing out how defender Tosin Adarabioyo's age did not stop him from having poorly in the defeat to Leeds United.

The Italian coach, who oversees the youngest team in the Premier League, does not feel that mentality played a part in the setback. He made his case by criticising Tosin, Chelsea's oldest player on the pitch, after he produced a mistake-riddled display in central defence.

“People always talk about experience when we fail to win,” the coach stated. “When we beat Barcelona, we drew against Arsenal, nobody was talking about experienced personnel. I know that if we lose, people are constantly searching for an explanation, but in my view the reason why we lost to Leeds was not down to inexperience, it was because we were not good enough.”

He added, “Who is the most senior player for us in the match? Who was? Did he play any good? So, it’s not about experience. It's that those 11 players, they were simply not good enough.”

3. Guardiola Insists Defence 'Must Get Better'

Pep Guardiola has stated his team have taken lessons from their recent thriller against Fulham and the episode has now been in the past. City survived to claim a 5-4 victory during a incredible encounter at Craven Cottage, after leading 5-1 with almost an hour played.

Coming after they resisted a comeback to win 3-2 in the previous game, it raised more questions regarding if they possess the defensive steel required to mount a title challenge to leaders Arsenal. “That game is behind us,” he commented. “Good lessons, hopefully. In the Premier League, at all the clubs, one must take onboard both good and bad in the good things and bad things and focus on what's next.”

“Naturally I’m concerned,” he admitted. “We are trying to understand what happened, so as not to concede so many goals. After conceding three by Leeds, and the five by Fulham you can see the two versions, right? So, we have we have done plenty of positive things. Yet the number of attempts did Leeds ? Three? Scored two. It’s not bad. And shots on target for Fulham have? Five, six? So the average of chances conceded is is high. We have to improve.”

4. Newcastle Prioritise New Defenders' Deals

The Magpies' recently appointed football chief, Ross Wilson, has made contract discussions with important backline players Tino Livramento and Sven Botman the priority on his agenda at St James’ Park. Wilson joined after leaving Nottingham Forest recently and was pleased to learn playmaker Sandro Tonali is on a deal that runs to 2029 with an option until 2030.

This allows Wilson free to focus on talks with Livramento and Botman's representatives. With the former’s agreement ending in 2027 and the latter’s in 2028, the club's efforts have assumed a certain importance.

“The initial three or four days in the job is when I found that Sandro’s contract situation is significantly more secure than I was expecting,” said Wilson. “But it’s no secret that we would want to extend Tino’s contract and also wants to renew Sven Botman’s as well. Those discussions are ongoing.”

Head coach Eddie Howe will be without Botman for the match against Burnley this Saturday, with the defender likely to remain sidelined for another week.

Nuno Says Paquetá Returns for West Ham

West Ham head coach Nuno Espírito Santo has confirmed that Lucas Paquetá is back to start for the side play Brighton this Sunday, after serving his suspension for the red card against Liverpool.

“That incident is in the past,” the manager said. “I am positive it will not happen again as he personally acknowledged the error. We discussed it internally. I am positive the matter is closed and it will not be repeated.”

Nuno also understands the significant pressure facing his team, currently 18th ahead of the weekend fixtures. “We can't ignore it,” he admitted. “It's the situation. We must face it. We're battling for survival. We cannot shy away from it.”

6. Arteta Pleased with No 9 Stand-in Merino

Mikel Merino could continue leading the line for Arsenal centre-forward despite their regular frontmen return from injury. The midfielder has been deployed as a makeshift number nine because of injuries for Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

He scored the opener against Brentford and set up Bukayo Saka for the second goal during a 2-0 victory which preserved {their|