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This week's English football developments, a key player was handed a lengthy ban, a manager has singled to a player's mistakes to prove a point, and Pep Guardiola has demanded defensive betterment after a chaotic victory.

Mejbri Handed Four-Match Suspension and Fine

The Clarets' midfielder Hannibal Mejbri has been given a four-game suspension and a financial penalty for improper behaviour in a recent match versus Leeds United. The governing body said Mejbri faced an independent regulatory commission following an incident where he spat in the direction of visiting fans around the 67th point of a 2-0 win for Burnley.

An FA release said: “An independent Regulatory Commission has sanctioned the Hannibal Mejbri due to misconduct in the Premier League match with Leeds on 18 October. The charge was that the player behaved in breach of the laws of the game and/or in an improper way by using offensive and/or unacceptable behaviour through spitting at or in the area of Leeds United fans.”

It continued, “Mejbri later accepted the allegation, with the panel handing down a four-game ban and £15,000 following a hearing. The panel's written reasons for its decisions will be published at a later date.” Burnley, now in 19th place in the Premier League table, travel to 12th-place Newcastle this Saturday.

Maresca Points to Adarabioyo's Errors to Prove an Argument

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has stated that a lack of seasoned players is no a problem at team, pointing out that centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo's age did not prevent the 28-year-old from having poorly in the loss to Leeds United.

Maresca, who manages the youngest squad in the Premier League, rejected the idea that inexperience played a part in the poor result. He presented his case by singling out Tosin, the most experienced outfield player on the pitch, who delivered an error-strewn display in central defence.

“We always mention a lack of experience after we fail to win,” Maresca said. “When we defeated Barcelona, we drew with Arsenal, nobody was mentioning older players. I know that when we lose, people are always looking for the reason why, but in my view why we didn’t win to Leeds was not down to the experience, it’s because we just weren't good enough.”

He added, “Who was the most senior player on our team on the pitch? Who was? Did he play good? Therefore, it isn't related to his age. It's that those 11 players, they were not up to standard.”

3. Guardiola Insists Defence 'Must Improve'

Pep Guardiola has stated the champions have taken lessons from a midweek scare at Fulham and the game has now been in the past. The team survived to claim a 5-4 win during a incredible clash on Tuesday, having led 5-1 with almost 60 minutes played.

Coming after they resisted a Leeds fightback and won 3-2 in the prior game, prompting more questions regarding if they are resilient required to sustain a challenge to leaders Arsenal. “That game is behind us,” he said. “Good lessons, hopefully. In the Premier League, for every team, you have to take onboard what happens performances and bad things and think of what's next.”

“Of course I’m concerned,” he admitted. “We try to analyse the cause, so as not to allow so many goals. After conceding three scored against Leeds, and five goals against Fulham it shows the two sides, correct? Therefore, always we have done many good things. Yet how many attempts had Leeds ? Three? Scored two. That ratio is good. And shots on target for Fulham have? Five, six? So the average of chances conceded we can see is high. We have to improve.”

Newcastle Prioritise New Livramento and Botman Deals

Newcastle United's recently appointed football chief, Ross Wilson, has placed new deal negotiations with important backline players Tino Livramento and Sven Botman at the top of his to-do list for the club. Wilson arrived from Nottingham Forest recently and is pleased to learn playmaker Sandro Tonali has a contract that runs to 2029 with an option until 2030.

This allows Wilson free to prioritise negotiations with Livramento and Botman's agents. With the former’s agreement ending in 2027 and Botman's in 2028, Newcastle's efforts have assumed a certain urgency.

“The initial few days in the job was when I discovered that Sandro’s contract situation is much better than the one I had thought,” he stated. “However, it is no secret that we wishes to extend Tino’s deal and we would want to extend Sven Botman’s as well. These talks are ongoing.”

Head coach Eddie Howe is without Botman against the match against Burnley on Saturday, and he expected to remain sidelined for at least a further period.

5. Nuno Says Paquetá Returns for West Ham

The Hammers' head coach Nuno Espírito Santo has stated that Lucas Paquetá is back to start for the side face Brighton this Sunday, having completed his suspension for the sending-off against Liverpool.

“It is in the past,” the manager remarked. “I am positive it won't happen again because he personally admitted his mistake. We spoke about it in the dressing room. I believe it is over and will not happen again.”

He also understands the significant strain on his side, who are 18th before Saturday's fixtures. “We cannot ignore it,” he admitted. “It's the situation. We have to confront it. We are fighting for our top-flight status. We cannot shy away from it.”

6. Arteta Pleased with No 9 Deputy Merino

Mikel Merino may keep his place as Arsenal’s centre-forward despite their regular strikers are fit again. The midfielder has been deployed as a makeshift number nine because of fitness issues to Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

He scored the opener versus Brentford before assisting Bukayo Saka for the second goal in a 2-0 victory that maintained {their|