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This week's English football updates, a notable player has been given a substantial ban, a head coach has pointed to a defender's errors to prove a point, and the Manchester City manager has demanded backline improvements following an erratic victory.

Mejbri Issued Four-Game Ban and Financial Penalty

Burnley's midfielder Hannibal Mejbri was issued a four-game ban and a £15,000 fine for misconduct during a recent match against Leeds United. The Football Association stated Mejbri faced a separate regulatory commission after an incident of spitting towards visiting supporters around the 67th point of a 2-0 victory by Burnley.

A statement explained: “A disciplinary panel has punished Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri for his actions during the Premier League match against Leeds on 18 October. The charge was that he behaved against the laws of the game or in an improper way by engaging in offensive and/or indecent conduct by spitting towards the area of Leeds United fans.”

The statement continued, “Mejbri later admitted the charge, and the panel imposed a four-match suspension and £15,000 after a hearing. The panel's written reasons for the sanction are to be released in due course.” The team, now 19th in the Premier League standings, travel to 12th-place Newcastle this Saturday.

2. Maresca Points to Adarabioyo's Errors to Prove a Point

The Blues' head coach Enzo Maresca has argued that a lack of experience is not a problem for his team, highlighting that centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo's years did not prevent him from playing a bad game during a 3-1 defeat against Leeds United.

Maresca, who manages the most youthful team in the Premier League, rejected the idea that mentality played a part in their poor result. He made his case by criticising Tosin, the oldest player on the pitch, who delivered an error-strewn display at the back.

“People always talk about experience after we drop points,” the coach said. “After we defeated Barcelona, the draw with Arsenal, no one was talking about experienced personnel. I know that if we lose, we are always looking for an explanation, but in my view the reason why we didn’t win to Leeds was not down to the experience, it was because we were not at our best.”

He added, “Who was the most senior player for us on the pitch? It was Tosin. Was he good? So, it isn't related to experience. It's that those 11 men, they were simply not up to standard.”

3. Guardiola Insists Defensive Solidity 'Must Improve'

Pep Guardiola has stated his team have learnt from their recent thriller at Fulham with the game is now forgotten. The team held on for a 5-4 win during a remarkable encounter on Tuesday, having led 5-1 with about an hour played.

Coming after they resisted a Leeds fightback to win 3-2 in the previous fixture, it raised more questions regarding if they possess the defensive steel enough to mount a challenge to leaders Arsenal. “That game is forgotten,” Guardiola commented. “Valuable learnings, hopefully. In the Premier League, at all the clubs, one must learn from both good and bad performances and bad things and focus on the next one.”

“Of course I am worried,” he admitted. “We try to analyse the cause, so as not to concede so many goals. After conceding three against Leeds, and five goals against Fulham it shows the two sides, right? Therefore, always we have done plenty of good things. But how many attempts had Leeds have? Three? They scored two. That ratio is good. And shots on target did Fulham have? Five, six? So the average of chances conceded is too high. We must improve.”

4. Newcastle Prioritise on Livramento and Botman Deals

The Magpies' recently appointed football chief, Ross Wilson, has made new deal discussions with important backline players Tino Livramento and Sven Botman at the top of his to-do list for the club. Wilson joined from Nottingham Forest recently and is reassured that playmaker Sandro Tonali has a deal that runs until 2029 and, potentially, 2030.

This allows Wilson to focus on negotiations for Livramento and Botman's representatives. Livramento's current deal set to expire in 2027 and the latter’s in 2028, the club's talks have assumed some urgency.

“My first three or four days after starting was when I discovered that Sandro’s contract situation was significantly better than I was expecting,” said Wilson. “However, it is no secret that the club wishes to renew Tino’s deal and we wants to extend Sven Botman’s as well. Those discussions are underway.”

Head coach Eddie Howe is missing Botman against the home game against Burnley this Saturday, and he likely to remain out for a further period.

Nuno Confirms Paquetá Returns for West Ham

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

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

Nuno also acknowledged the significant pressure facing his team, who are 18th before the weekend matches. “We can't ignore it,” he admitted. “It's the situation. We must confront it. We're fighting for our top-flight status. We cannot shy away from it.”

6. Arteta Pleased with Striker Stand-in Merino

The Spanish midfielder may keep his place leading the line for Arsenal central striker even when the club's usual strikers return from injury. The midfielder has been playing as an emergency number nine due to fitness issues to Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

Merino found the net for Arsenal’s first goal versus Brentford and set up Bukayo Saka for their second during a 2-0 win that maintained {their|