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This week's English football news, a key player has been handed a significant suspension, a head coach has singled to a player's errors to prove an argument, and Pep Guardiola has called for defensive improvements following a wild victory.

Mejbri Given Four-Game Suspension and Fine

The Clarets' player Hannibal Mejbri was issued a four-match ban and a financial penalty following misconduct during October's fixture versus Leeds United. The governing body stated Mejbri was referred a separate disciplinary panel after allegations of spitting towards visiting fans at the 67th mark of a 2-0 victory for Burnley.

A statement explained: “A Regulatory Commission has sanctioned Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri due to misconduct during the top-flight match with Leeds of 18 October. The charge was that the player acted in breach of the rules of the game and/or in an improper manner and/or using offensive and/or indecent conduct by spitting at or in the area of Leeds United fans.”

The statement added, “Mejbri later accepted the allegation, and the panel imposed a four-game ban and a fine following a hearing. The panel's written reasons for its decisions will be published at a later date.” Burnley, currently in 19th place in the table, visit 12th-place Newcastle this Saturday.

2. Maresca Singles Out Tosin's Errors to Prove a Point

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has argued that a lack of experience is not an issue at club, highlighting how centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo's age did not stop the 28-year-old from playing a bad game in a 3-1 loss against Leeds United.

Maresca, who oversees the youngest squad in the division, does not feel that mentality played a part in their setback. He presented his argument by criticising Tosin, the most experienced player on the pitch, after he produced an error-strewn performance at the back.

“People always talk about experience after we drop points,” Maresca stated. “After we beat Barcelona, we drew with Arsenal, nobody was talking about older players. I understand that when we lose, people are always searching for an explanation, but in my view why we lost to Leeds is not because of the experience, it was because we were not good enough.”

He added, “Who was the oldest one on our team in the match? Who was? Was he good? Therefore, it isn't related to experience. It's that those 11 men, they were not up to standard.”

3. Guardiola Insists Defensive Solidity 'Must Get Better'

Pep Guardiola has stated his team have learnt from their recent scare at Fulham and the game has now been in the past. The team held on for a 5-4 win during a incredible encounter on Tuesday, having led 5-1 with about 60 minutes gone.

This followed they resisted a fightback and won 3-2 in their prior game, prompting more questions about whether City possess resilient enough to mount a challenge to leaders Arsenal. “That game is forgotten,” he commented. “Valuable lessons, hopefully. At this level, at all the clubs, you have to take onboard both good and bad performances and results and think of the next one.”

“Naturally I am worried,” Guardiola added. “We try to analyse what happened, so as not to concede so many goals. With the three goals against Leeds, and five goals against Fulham it shows the two versions, right? So, always we have done plenty of positive things. But the number of attempts did Leeds have? 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 Focus New Livramento and Botman Contracts

Newcastle United's new sporting director, Ross Wilson, has placed new deal negotiations involving important defenders Tino Livramento and Sven Botman at the top of his to-do list at St James’ Park. Wilson joined from Nottingham Forest recently and was reassured to learn playmaker Sandro Tonali has a deal extending until 2029 and, potentially, 2030.

This allows Wilson free to prioritise talks with Livramento and Botman's representatives. With the former’s agreement ending in 2027 and the latter’s in 2028, Newcastle's talks are being treated with a certain importance.

“The initial few days in the job is when I found that Sandro’s contract situation is much more secure than the one I had thought,” he stated. “But it’s well known that we wishes to renew Tino’s contract and we wants to renew Sven Botman’s too. These talks are underway.”

Head coach Eddie Howe is without Botman against the match against Burnley on Saturday, with the defender likely to be out for at least another week.

5. Nuno Confirms Paquetá Returns Against Brighton

West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo has stated that Lucas Paquetá is back to the starting lineup when they play Brighton on Sunday, after serving his suspension following a red card he received Liverpool.

“That incident is in the past,” Nuno remarked. “I am positive it won't happen again because he personally admitted his mistake. We discussed it internally. I am positive it is over and will not happen again.”

He also acknowledged the intense pressure facing his team, who are 18th before Saturday's fixtures. “We can't ignore it,” he admitted. “It's a reality. We have to face it. We're battling for survival. We cannot shy away from it.”

6. Arteta Pleased with No 9 Deputy Merino

The Spanish midfielder may keep his place as Arsenal’s central striker despite their regular strikers return from injury. The midfielder has been deployed as a makeshift No 9 due to fitness issues to Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

He scored Arsenal’s first goal against Brentford before assisting Bukayo Saka for the second goal during a 2-0 win that maintained {their|