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This week's Premier League developments, a notable midfielder has been handed a significant ban, a head coach has pointed out a defender's errors to make an argument, and the Manchester City manager has called for defensive betterment following a wild win.

Mejbri Given Four-Match Ban and Financial Penalty

The Clarets' player Hannibal Mejbri has been handed a four-match suspension and a £15,000 penalty following improper behaviour during a recent match against Leeds United. The Football Association confirmed Mejbri faced a separate disciplinary panel after an incident of spitting in the direction of visiting fans at the 67-minute point of a 2-0 win by Burnley.

An FA release read: “A disciplinary panel has sanctioned Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri due to his actions during the top-flight game against Leeds of 18 October. It was alleged that the player behaved against the rules of football or in an improper manner by using abusive and unacceptable conduct by spitting towards the area of Leeds United supporters.”

The statement continued, “Mejbri subsequently accepted the allegation, with the Regulatory Commission handing down a four-match ban and £15,000 after a hearing. The Regulatory Commission’s full explanation for its decisions are to be released at a later date.” Burnley, currently in 19th place in the standings, travel to 12th-place Newcastle this Saturday.

Maresca Points to Tosin's Mistakes to Prove a Point

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has argued that a lack of seasoned players is no a problem at club, highlighting how defender Tosin Adarabioyo's years did not prevent the 28-year-old from having poorly during the defeat to Leeds United.

Maresca, who manages the most youthful team in the division, rejected the idea that inexperience played a part in their poor result. He made his case by criticising Tosin, Chelsea's oldest player on the pitch, who delivered an error-strewn performance in central defence.

“People always mention experience after we drop points,” the coach said. “After we defeated Barcelona, the draw with Arsenal, nobody was talking about experienced personnel. I understand that if we lose, people are constantly searching for an explanation, but in my view why we didn’t win against Leeds is not because of the experience, it was because we just weren't at our best.”

Maresca continued, “Who is the oldest one on our team in the match? It was Tosin. Was he any good? Therefore, it isn't related to experience. It’s about those 11 players, they were not good enough.”

Guardiola Insists Defence 'Must Get Better'

The Manchester City manager has stated the champions have taken lessons from their recent scare at Fulham with the episode is now in the past. The team survived for a 5-4 victory in a remarkable encounter on Tuesday, having led 5-1 with almost 60 minutes gone.

This followed they fought off a fightback to win 3-2 in the prior game, it raised more questions regarding if they are the defensive steel required to sustain a title challenge against pace-setters Arsenal. “That game is behind us,” he commented. “Good learnings, hopefully. In the Premier League, for every team, you have to take onboard what happens performances and bad things and think of the next one.”

“Of course I am worried,” Guardiola added. “We try to analyse the cause, so as not to concede the goals. With the three goals scored by Leeds, and five goals against Fulham it shows the two versions, correct? So, always done many good things. But the number of shots on target had Leeds ? Three? Scored two. That ratio is bad. How many attempts did Fulham ? Five, six? So, our ratio of chances conceded is too high. We must improve.”

Newcastle Focus New Livramento and Botman Deals

Newcastle United's recently appointed sporting director, Ross Wilson, has made new deal negotiations with important backline players Tino Livramento and Sven Botman the priority on his agenda at St James’ Park. Wilson joined after leaving Nottingham Forest in October and was pleased that playmaker Sandro Tonali has a deal extending until 2029 and, potentially, 2030.

That has left Wilson to focus on negotiations for Livramento and Botman's agents. Livramento's agreement set to expire in 2027 and Botman's a year later, Newcastle's talks have assumed a certain urgency.

“The initial three or four days after starting was when I discovered that Sandro’s contract situation was much better than I had thought,” said Wilson. “But it’s no secret that the club would want to renew Tino’s contract and also wants to extend Sven Botman’s too. Those discussions are underway.”

Head coach Eddie Howe will be without Botman for the home game with Burnley on Saturday, and he likely to be sidelined for another week.

5. Nuno Says Paquetá Will Start for West Ham

West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo has confirmed that Lucas Paquetá will return to start for the side play Brighton this Sunday, after serving his suspension following a red card he received Liverpool.

“It is behind us,” the manager said. “I am positive it will not be repeated as he personally admitted the error. We discussed it internally. I believe it is over and will not happen again.”

Nuno also understands the significant strain facing his team, who are 18th ahead of the weekend fixtures. “We cannot avoid it,” he admitted. “It's a reality. We have to confront it. We are battling for survival. We can't shy away from it.”

6. Arteta Impressed by No 9 Deputy Merino

Mikel Merino could continue leading the line for Arsenal central striker despite the club's usual frontmen return from injury. The midfielder has been deployed as an emergency number nine due to injuries to Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

Merino found the net for the first goal versus Brentford and set up Bukayo Saka for the second during a 2-0 victory which preserved {their|