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This week's top-flight updates, a significant midfielder was given a lengthy suspension, a manager has singled to a player's mistakes to prove a point, and the Manchester City manager has demanded backline betterment after a chaotic win.

1. Mejbri Issued Four-Match Ban and Fine

The Clarets' player Hannibal Mejbri has been handed a four-game ban and a financial fine following misconduct in a recent match against Leeds United. The Football Association stated Mejbri faced an independent disciplinary panel after an incident where he spat in the direction of away supporters around the 67-minute mark of a 2-0 victory for Burnley.

An FA statement read: “An independent Regulatory Commission has sanctioned the Hannibal Mejbri for misconduct during the Premier League game against Leeds of 18 October. The charge was that he behaved against the rules of the game or in a poor way and/or engaging in offensive and unacceptable conduct by spitting towards the area of Leeds United fans.”

The statement continued, “Mejbri subsequently admitted the allegation, and the panel imposed a four-match ban and a fine after proceedings. The panel's full explanation for the sanction are to be released in due course.” The team, now 19th in the table, travel to 12th-placed Newcastle on Saturday.

2. Maresca Points to Tosin's Mistakes to Prove an Argument

The Blues' head coach Enzo Maresca has argued that not having experience is not an issue at club, pointing out how centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo's age did not stop the 28-year-old from playing poorly during the loss against Leeds United.

Maresca, who manages the most youthful squad in the Premier League, does not feel that inexperience played a part in the setback. He presented his case by criticising Tosin, the most experienced outfield player on the pitch, who delivered a mistake-riddled display at the back.

“People always talk about a lack of experience when we fail to win,” the coach said. “After we defeated Barcelona, we drew with Arsenal, nobody was talking about older players. I know that if we lose, people are always looking for the reason why, but in my view the reason why we lost to Leeds was not down to the experience, it was because we were not at our best.”

Maresca continued, “Who is the most senior player on our team on the pitch? Who was? Did he play good? Therefore, it isn't related to experience. It's that those 11 men, they were not good enough.”

Guardiola Insists Defensive Solidity 'Has to Improve'

Pep Guardiola has stated the champions have learnt from a recent thriller against Fulham and the episode has now been in the past. City survived to claim a 5-4 victory in a remarkable clash on Tuesday, after leading 5-1 with about 60 minutes gone.

This followed they fought off a Leeds fightback to win 3-2 in the previous fixture, it raised further doubts regarding whether they possess resilient enough to sustain a title challenge against pace-setters Arsenal. “That game is forgotten,” he commented. “Valuable learnings, I hope. At this level, at all the clubs, one must take onboard both good and bad performances and results and think of what's next.”

“Naturally I am worried,” he admitted. “We try to understand the cause, to not concede so many goals. After conceding three scored against Leeds, and the five goals by Fulham it shows the two versions, right? Therefore, always done many good things. But the number of attempts did Leeds have? Three? They scored two. It’s not good. How many attempts did Fulham ? Five, six? So, the average of shots conceded is too high. We have to improve.”

4. Newcastle Prioritise New Defenders' Contracts

The Magpies' recently appointed sporting director, Ross Wilson, has placed contract discussions involving key defenders Tino Livramento and Sven Botman the priority on his to-do list at St James’ Park. Wilson arrived from Nottingham Forest recently and is pleased that playmaker Sandro Tonali has a contract extending until 2029 and, potentially, 2030.

This allows Wilson to prioritise talks with Livramento and Botman's representatives. Livramento's agreement set to expire in 2027 and the latter’s a year later, the club's talks are being treated with a certain urgency.

“The initial few days in the job is when I discovered that Sandro’s deal was significantly more secure than the one I had thought,” said Wilson. “But it’s no secret that we wishes to renew Tino’s contract and also would want to renew Sven Botman’s too. These talks are underway.”

Head coach Eddie Howe will be without Botman against the match against Burnley this Saturday, and he likely to be sidelined for another week.

5. Nuno Confirms Paquetá Returns Against Brighton

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

“That incident is behind us,” the manager remarked. “I am positive it will not happen again because he personally admitted the error. We discussed it about it in the dressing room. I am positive the matter is closed and will not be repeated.”

Nuno also understands the significant strain on his side, currently in the relegation zone ahead of the weekend fixtures. “We cannot ignore it,” he admitted. “It's the situation. We must face it. We're fighting for survival. We cannot shy away from it.”

6. Arteta Impressed by No 9 Stand-in Merino

Mikel Merino may keep his place as Arsenal’s central striker even when the club's usual strikers return from injury. Merino has been playing as an emergency number nine because of injuries for Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

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