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This week's English football developments, a key midfielder was issued a significant ban, a head coach has pointed out a player's mistakes to make a point, and the Manchester City manager has called for backline betterment following a chaotic win.

1. Mejbri Issued Four-Game Ban and Financial Penalty

The Clarets' player Hannibal Mejbri was given a four-game suspension and a financial penalty for misconduct in a recent fixture versus Leeds United. The governing body said the player faced a separate disciplinary panel after allegations of spitting towards away supporters around the 67-minute mark of a 2-0 victory for Burnley.

An FA statement read: “A Regulatory Commission has punished the Hannibal Mejbri due to misconduct during their top-flight match against Leeds on 18 October. It was alleged that the player behaved in breach of the laws of football or in a poor way by engaging in abusive and unacceptable behaviour by spitting towards the area of Leeds United supporters.”

It added, “Mejbri later admitted the charge, and the Regulatory Commission handing down a four-game suspension and a fine following proceedings. The Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for its decisions will be published in due course.” The team, now in 19th place in the Premier League standings, visit 12th-place Newcastle this Saturday.

Maresca Points to Adarabioyo's Mistakes to Make a Point

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has stated that not having experience is no an issue at club, pointing out how defender Tosin Adarabioyo's years did not stop him from playing a bad game in a 3-1 defeat against Leeds United.

Maresca, who manages the most youthful squad in the division, does not feel that mentality played a part in the poor result. He presented his argument by criticising Tosin, the most experienced player on the pitch, who delivered a mistake-riddled performance at the back.

“People always talk about a lack of experience when we fail to win,” Maresca stated. “When we defeated Barcelona, we drew with Arsenal, no one was mentioning experienced players. I understand that when we lose, people are constantly searching for an explanation, but I think why we didn’t win to Leeds was not down to the experience, it was because we just weren't good enough.”

Maresca continued, “Who is the oldest one on our team on the pitch? Who was? Did he play good? Therefore, it’s not about his age. It’s about those 11 players, they were simply not up to standard.”

3. Guardiola Says Defence 'Has to Get Better'

The Manchester City manager has insisted his team have learnt from their midweek scare against Fulham with the game is now forgotten. The team held on for a 5-4 victory in a incredible encounter on Tuesday, after leading 5-1 with about an hour gone.

This followed they resisted a comeback to win 3-2 in their previous game, it raised further doubts regarding whether they are the defensive steel required to mount a title challenge to leaders Arsenal. “That game is behind us,” he said. “Good learnings, I hope. At this level, at all the clubs, you have to take onboard what happens in the good things and results and focus on what's next.”

“Naturally I am worried,” he admitted. “We are trying to analyse the cause, so as not to concede so many goals. After conceding three against Leeds, and the five goals against Fulham it shows our versions, right? Therefore, we have done many good things. But the number of attempts did Leeds have? Three? Scored two. That ratio is bad. And shots on target for Fulham ? Five, six? So our ratio of shots conceded we can see too high. We must improve.”

4. Newcastle Focus on Defenders' Contracts

Newcastle United's new sporting director, Ross Wilson, has placed contract negotiations with important backline players Tino Livramento and Sven Botman at the top of his to-do list at St James’ Park. Wilson arrived after leaving Nottingham Forest in October and is pleased to learn playmaker Sandro Tonali has a deal that runs to 2029 with an option until 2030.

That has left Wilson to prioritise negotiations with Livramento and Botman's representatives. With the former’s agreement ending in 2027 and the latter’s in 2028, Newcastle's efforts are being treated with some importance.

“My first few days after starting is when I found that Sandro’s deal was significantly more secure than I had thought,” he stated. “But it’s no secret that the club would want to extend Tino’s deal and we would want to extend Sven Botman’s too. These talks are ongoing.”

Manager Eddie Howe will be without Botman for the home game with Burnley on Saturday, and he expected to remain out for another week.

5. Nuno Says Paquetá Will Start for West Ham

The Hammers' manager Nuno Espírito Santo has confirmed that Lucas Paquetá will return to start for the side play Brighton on Sunday, after serving a ban for the red card he received Liverpool.

“That incident is in the past,” the manager remarked. “I am confident it won't happen again as he himself admitted his mistake. We spoke about it in the dressing room. I believe it is over and will not be repeated.”

He also acknowledged the intense pressure facing his team, currently 18th before Saturday's matches. “We cannot avoid it,” he said. “It is the situation. We have to confront it. We're fighting for survival. We cannot hide it.”

6. Arteta Impressed by No 9 Deputy Merino

The Spanish midfielder could continue as Arsenal’s central striker even when the club's usual frontmen are fit again. The midfielder has been playing as an emergency No 9 due to injuries to Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

Merino found the net for the first goal against Brentford before assisting Bukayo Saka for the second goal during a 2-0 win which preserved {their|