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This week's English football updates, a key midfielder was given a significant ban, a manager has pointed to a defender's mistakes to make a point, and Pep Guardiola has called for backline betterment after a chaotic victory.

Mejbri Handed Four-Game Ban and Financial Penalty

The Clarets' player Hannibal Mejbri was issued a four-game suspension and a £15,000 fine following misconduct during October's match against Leeds United. The governing body stated the player was referred an independent regulatory commission after an incident where he spat towards away fans at the 67-minute point of a 2-0 win by Burnley.

An FA statement explained: “A Regulatory Commission has punished the Hannibal Mejbri due to his actions in the Premier League match with Leeds on 18 October. It was alleged that the player acted in breach of the laws of football or in an improper way and/or using abusive and unacceptable behaviour by spitting towards the direction of Leeds United fans.”

The statement added, “Mejbri later admitted the allegation, with the Regulatory Commission imposed a four-game ban and £15,000 after a hearing. The Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for the sanction are to be released at a later date.” Burnley, now 19th in the standings, visit 12th-place Newcastle this Saturday.

2. Maresca Points to Adarabioyo's Errors to Make an Argument

The Blues' head coach Enzo Maresca has stated that a lack of experience is not an issue at club, pointing out that centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo's years did not stop him from playing a bad game in the defeat to Leeds United.

Maresca, who manages the youngest squad in the Premier League, does not feel that mentality played a part in their poor result. He presented his argument by singling out Tosin, Chelsea's most experienced outfield player on the pitch, after he produced an error-strewn performance in central defence.

“We always mention experience after we drop points,” the coach said. “After we defeated Barcelona, the draw against Arsenal, no one was talking about experienced personnel. I understand that when we don’t win, people are always looking for an explanation, but I think why we lost against Leeds is not because of inexperience, it was because we were not at our best.”

Maresca continued, “Who was the oldest one on our team in the match? It was Tosin. Did he play good? So, it’s not about experience. It’s about those 11 men, they were simply not good enough.”

3. Guardiola Insists Defence 'Has to Get Better'

Pep Guardiola has stated his team have taken lessons from their midweek thriller at Fulham and the game has now been forgotten. The team survived for a 5-4 victory during a incredible clash on Tuesday, having led 5-1 with almost an hour played.

This followed they fought off a Leeds fightback to win 3-2 in their prior game, prompting more questions regarding if they are the defensive steel enough to sustain a challenge to leaders Arsenal. “That game is behind us,” Guardiola commented. “Valuable learnings, hopefully. In the Premier League, at all the clubs, one must take onboard both good and bad in the good things and results and focus on the next one.”

“Of course I am worried,” Guardiola added. “We try to understand the cause, to not allow so many goals. With the three goals by Leeds, and five against Fulham it shows our versions, right? So, always done many positive things. Yet the number of shots on target had Leeds have? Three? Scored two. That ratio is good. And attempts did Fulham have? Five, six? So, the average of chances conceded is too high. We must be better.”

Newcastle Prioritise on Livramento and Botman Deals

The Magpies' recently appointed football chief, Ross Wilson, has made new deal discussions involving important defenders Tino Livramento and Sven Botman at the top of his to-do list for the club. Wilson arrived from Nottingham Forest in October and is pleased that playmaker Sandro Tonali has a deal that runs to 2029 and, potentially, 2030.

That has left Wilson free to focus on talks with Livramento and Botman's representatives. Livramento's agreement ending in 2027 and the latter’s in 2028, Newcastle's efforts have assumed a certain urgency.

“The initial three or four days in the job was when I discovered that Sandro’s deal was significantly better than I had thought,” said Wilson. “But it’s well known that the club wishes to extend Tino’s deal and also wants to extend Sven Botman’s too. Those discussions are underway.”

Manager Eddie Howe will be missing Botman for the home game with Burnley this Saturday, and he likely to remain out for a further period.

Nuno Says Paquetá Will Start Against Brighton

West Ham head coach Nuno Espírito Santo has confirmed that Lucas Paquetá will return to the starting lineup for they play Brighton on Sunday, after serving his suspension following a sending-off he received Liverpool.

“That incident is in the past,” Nuno said. “I am positive it won't happen again as he himself acknowledged the error. We spoke about it internally. I believe it is over and will not be repeated.”

Nuno also understands the intense pressure facing his team, currently 18th before the weekend matches. “We can't ignore it,” he said. “It's the situation. We must confront it. We're battling for survival. We can't hide it.”

6. Arteta Impressed by No 9 Stand-in Merino

Mikel Merino could continue as Arsenal’s centre-forward even when the club's usual strikers return from injury. Merino has been deployed as an emergency No 9 due to fitness issues to Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

Merino found the net for Arsenal’s opener versus Brentford before assisting Bukayo Saka for the second in a 2-0 victory that maintained {their|