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This week's Premier League developments, a notable midfielder has been handed a substantial ban, a manager has singled out a defender's errors to make a point, and the Manchester City manager has demanded backline betterment following an erratic win.

1. Mejbri Issued Four-Game Ban and Fine

The Clarets' midfielder Hannibal Mejbri has been given a four-game ban and a £15,000 penalty for improper behaviour during a recent match versus Leeds United. The Football Association said the player was referred an independent disciplinary panel after an incident where he spat towards visiting supporters at the 67th mark during a 2-0 victory for Burnley.

An FA statement said: “An independent Regulatory Commission has punished Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri due to his actions during the top-flight match with Leeds on 18 October. It was alleged that he acted in breach of the rules of the game and/or in a poor way by engaging in offensive and indecent behaviour by spitting towards the area of Leeds United fans.”

The statement continued, “Mejbri later accepted the allegation, and the Regulatory Commission imposed a four-match ban and a fine after a hearing. The panel's written reasons for its decisions will be published at a later date.” The team, currently in 19th place in the Premier League table, travel to 12th-place Newcastle on Saturday.

2. Maresca Singles Out Adarabioyo's Mistakes to Prove a Point

The Blues' head coach Enzo Maresca has stated that not having seasoned players is no an issue for his team, pointing out how defender Tosin Adarabioyo's years did not prevent the 28-year-old from playing a bad game in a 3-1 loss against Leeds United.

Maresca, who manages the most youthful squad in the Premier League, rejected the idea that mentality played a part in their poor result. He made his argument by criticising Tosin, Chelsea's oldest outfield player in the lineup, after he delivered a mistake-riddled performance at the back.

“We always mention a lack of experience when we fail to win,” Maresca stated. “After we defeated Barcelona, the draw with Arsenal, nobody was talking about older personnel. I understand that if we don’t win, we are constantly looking for the reason why, but in my view the reason why we lost against Leeds was not down to the experience, it’s because we were not at our best.”

He added, “Who was the most senior player for us in the match? Who was? Did he play good? Therefore, it isn't related to experience. It's that those 11 players, they were simply not good enough.”

Guardiola Insists Defence 'Has to Improve'

The Manchester City manager has insisted the champions have taken lessons from their midweek thriller at Fulham with the game has now been forgotten. The team held on for a 5-4 win in a incredible encounter at Craven Cottage, having led 5-1 with almost 60 minutes gone.

Coming after they fought off a fightback to win 3-2 in their previous fixture, prompting further doubts regarding whether they possess resilient enough to mount a challenge against pace-setters Arsenal. “That game is forgotten,” he commented. “Valuable learnings, I hope. At this level, at all the clubs, you have to learn from what happens performances and results and focus on the next one.”

“Of course I am worried,” he admitted. “We are trying to understand the cause, so as not to allow so many goals. After conceding three scored by Leeds, and five by Fulham it shows our versions, correct? Therefore, always we have done plenty of good things. But how many shots on target had Leeds ? Three? Scored two. It’s not bad. How many attempts did Fulham have? Five, six? So our ratio of shots conceded we can see too high. We must improve.”

4. Newcastle Focus New Livramento and Botman Deals

Newcastle United's new sporting director, Ross Wilson, has placed contract discussions with key backline players Tino Livramento and Sven Botman at the top of his to-do list for the club. He arrived after leaving Nottingham Forest recently and was reassured to learn midfielder Sandro Tonali is on a contract that runs to 2029 and, potentially, 2030.

That has left Wilson to focus on talks with Livramento and Botman's representatives. Livramento's agreement ending in 2027 and the latter’s in 2028, Newcastle's efforts have assumed a certain importance.

“The initial few days after starting was when I discovered that Sandro’s contract situation was significantly better than the one I was expecting,” he stated. “But it’s well known that the club wishes to renew Tino’s contract and also would want to extend Sven Botman’s too. These talks are ongoing.”

Manager Eddie Howe is without Botman against the home game with Burnley this Saturday, and he expected to remain out for another week.

Nuno Says Paquetá Returns for West Ham

The Hammers' head coach Nuno Espírito Santo has stated that Lucas Paquetá is back to start when the side face Brighton on Sunday, after serving his suspension following a sending-off he received Liverpool.

“It is behind us,” the manager said. “I am positive it won't be repeated because he personally admitted the error. We discussed it in the dressing room. I am positive the matter is closed and will not happen again.”

Nuno also acknowledged the significant pressure on his side, who are in the relegation zone ahead of the weekend matches. “We cannot ignore it,” he admitted. “It is a reality. We must confront it. We are fighting for survival. We can't hide it.”

Arteta Pleased with No 9 Stand-in Merino

Mikel Merino could continue as Arsenal’s centre-forward despite the club's usual strikers return from injury. The midfielder has been deployed as a makeshift number nine because of fitness issues for Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

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