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This week's Premier League news, a notable midfielder was issued a substantial suspension, a head coach has singled out a player's errors to make an argument, and the Manchester City manager has demanded backline betterment after a chaotic victory.

Mejbri Issued Four-Match Ban and Financial Penalty

Burnley's player Hannibal Mejbri has been handed a four-match suspension and a financial fine for improper behaviour in October's fixture versus Leeds United. The governing body said the player was referred a separate regulatory commission after allegations of spitting towards away fans around the 67-minute point during a 2-0 victory for Burnley.

An FA release read: “An independent Regulatory Commission has punished the Hannibal Mejbri for misconduct in the Premier League game against Leeds of 18 October. It was alleged that the player acted in breach of the rules of football and/or in a poor way by using offensive and unacceptable behaviour through spitting towards the direction of Leeds United supporters.”

It continued, “Mejbri later admitted the charge, and the Regulatory Commission handing down a four-match ban and £15,000 following a hearing. The Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for the sanction will be published in due course.” Burnley, currently 19th in the table, travel to 12th-place Newcastle on Saturday.

Maresca Singles Out Tosin's Errors to Prove a Point

The Blues' manager Enzo Maresca has argued that a lack of experience is not an issue at club, pointing out that defender Tosin Adarabioyo's age did not stop the 28-year-old from having a bad game during a 3-1 defeat against Leeds United.

The Italian coach, who manages the youngest team in the division, does not feel that mentality was a factor in the setback. He made his case by criticising Tosin, Chelsea's most experienced player on the pitch, who produced an error-strewn performance at the back.

“We always mention a lack of experience when we fail to win,” Maresca stated. “When we defeated Barcelona, the draw with Arsenal, no one was mentioning older personnel. I understand that if we lose, people are constantly searching for an explanation, but in my view the reason why we lost to Leeds is not because of the experience, it was because we just weren't good enough.”

He added, “Who was the most senior player for us on the pitch? Who was? Did he play any good? So, it’s not about experience. It’s about those 11 men, they were simply not good enough.”

3. Guardiola Insists Defensive Solidity 'Has to Get Better'

The Manchester City manager has insisted his team have taken lessons from their recent thriller against Fulham and the game has now been forgotten. City held on for a 5-4 victory in a incredible encounter on Tuesday, after leading 5-1 with almost an hour gone.

Coming after they resisted a Leeds comeback and won 3-2 in the prior game, it raised further doubts about if they are the defensive steel required to mount a title challenge against pace-setters Arsenal. “That game is forgotten,” he commented. “Good learnings, I hope. In the Premier League, for every team, one must learn from both good and bad in the good things and results and focus on what's next.”

“Naturally I’m concerned,” Guardiola added. “We are trying to understand what happened, so as not to allow so many goals. After conceding three against Leeds, and five goals by Fulham you can see the two versions, right? Therefore, always we have done plenty of good things. But the number of shots on target did Leeds have? Three? Scored two. It’s not good. And attempts for Fulham have? Five, six? So, the average of chances conceded we can see too high. We have to improve.”

4. Newcastle Focus New Livramento and Botman Contracts

The Magpies' new football chief, Ross Wilson, has placed contract negotiations with key defenders Tino Livramento and Sven Botman at the top of his to-do list for the club. Wilson joined after leaving Nottingham Forest recently and is pleased to learn playmaker Sandro Tonali is on a deal that runs until 2029 and, potentially, 2030.

That has left Wilson free to prioritise negotiations with Livramento and Botman's representatives. With the former’s current deal set to expire in 2027 and Botman's a year later, Newcastle's talks have assumed a certain importance.

“The initial few days in the job was when I discovered that Sandro’s deal is much more secure than the one I had thought,” he stated. “But it’s well known that the club would want to extend Tino’s contract and also would want to extend Sven Botman’s too. Those discussions are underway.”

Head coach Eddie Howe is without Botman for the match with Burnley this Saturday, with the defender expected to remain out for a further period.

5. Nuno Confirms Paquetá Will Start for West Ham

The Hammers' head coach Nuno Espírito Santo has stated that Lucas Paquetá is back to the starting lineup for they play Brighton on Sunday, having completed a ban for the red card against Liverpool.

“That incident is behind us,” the manager remarked. “I am confident it will not be repeated as he personally admitted his mistake. We spoke about it in the dressing room. I am positive the matter is closed and it will not be repeated.”

Nuno also acknowledged the intense strain facing his team, who are 18th ahead of the weekend fixtures. “We cannot ignore it,” he admitted. “It is the situation. We have to confront it. We are fighting for survival. We cannot shy away from it.”

6. Arteta Impressed by Striker Deputy Merino

Mikel Merino may keep his place as Arsenal’s central striker despite the club's usual strikers return from injury. Merino has been deployed as a makeshift number nine due to injuries for Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

He scored the first goal against Brentford and set up Bukayo Saka for their second in a 2-0 win that maintained {their|