🔗 Share this article

This week's English football developments, a significant midfielder was issued a substantial ban, a head coach has pointed to a player's errors to prove an argument, and Pep Guardiola has demanded backline improvements following a chaotic win.

1. Mejbri Issued Four-Match Ban and Financial Penalty

The Clarets' player Hannibal Mejbri has been handed a four-game suspension and a financial fine for misconduct in a recent match against Leeds United. The Football Association said Mejbri was referred an independent regulatory commission after an incident of spitting towards away supporters around the 67th mark during a 2-0 win by Burnley.

An FA statement said: “A disciplinary panel has sanctioned the Hannibal Mejbri for misconduct during their top-flight match against Leeds on 18 October. The charge was that he behaved in breach of the rules of football and/or in an improper way and/or engaging in abusive and/or unacceptable conduct by spitting at or in the area of Leeds United supporters.”

The statement continued, “Mejbri subsequently accepted the charge, and the Regulatory Commission imposed a four-match ban and £15,000 following proceedings. The Regulatory Commission’s full explanation for its decisions are to be released at a later date.” The team, currently 19th in the Premier League table, visit 12th-placed Newcastle on Saturday.

Maresca Singles Out Adarabioyo's Mistakes to Prove an Argument

The Blues' head coach Enzo Maresca has stated that not having experience is not an issue at club, highlighting that defender Tosin Adarabioyo's years did not prevent the 28-year-old from playing poorly in the defeat against Leeds United.

The Italian coach, who oversees the youngest squad in the division, rejected the idea that inexperience was a factor in their setback. He presented his argument by criticising Tosin, Chelsea's most experienced player in the lineup, after he delivered a mistake-riddled performance at the back.

“People always talk about experience after we fail to win,” the coach stated. “After we beat Barcelona, the draw with Arsenal, no one was mentioning experienced personnel. I know that when we don’t win, we are always looking for an explanation, but in my view the reason why we lost to Leeds was not down to the experience, it was because we just weren't good enough.”

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

3. Guardiola Says Defence 'Must Improve'

Pep Guardiola has stated the champions have taken lessons from a recent thriller at Fulham and the game is now forgotten. City survived for a 5-4 victory during a incredible encounter on Tuesday, after leading 5-1 with almost an hour played.

This followed they resisted a Leeds fightback to win 3-2 in their prior fixture, it raised further doubts regarding whether they possess the defensive steel enough to mount a title challenge against pace-setters Arsenal. “It’s forgotten,” Guardiola said. “Good learnings, hopefully. At this level, at all the clubs, you have to learn from both good and bad performances and results and think of what's next.”

“Naturally I am worried,” Guardiola added. “We are trying to understand what happened, to not concede so many goals. After conceding three scored against Leeds, and the five by Fulham it shows the two versions, right? Therefore, always we have done plenty of good things. Yet how many shots on target had Leeds have? Three? Scored two. It’s not bad. How many shots on target for Fulham have? Five, six? So the average of chances conceded we can see too high. We have to improve.”

Newcastle Focus New Livramento and Botman Deals

Newcastle United's recently appointed sporting director, Ross Wilson, has made contract discussions with key defenders Tino Livramento and Sven Botman the priority on his to-do list at St James’ Park. He arrived after leaving Nottingham Forest recently and is pleased that playmaker Sandro Tonali has a contract extending until 2029 and, potentially, 2030.

This allows Wilson to focus on negotiations with Livramento and Botman's representatives. Livramento's agreement set to expire in 2027 and the latter’s a year later, the club's efforts are being treated with some importance.

“My first three or four days in the job was when I discovered that Sandro’s deal was much better than the one I had thought,” he stated. “But it’s no secret that we wishes to renew Tino’s deal and also would want to extend Sven Botman’s as well. These talks are ongoing.”

Head coach Eddie Howe is without Botman against the match against Burnley on Saturday, and he expected to be sidelined for another week.

Nuno Confirms Paquetá Returns Against Brighton

West Ham head coach Nuno Espírito Santo has confirmed that Lucas Paquetá is back to start for the side play Brighton this Sunday, after serving his suspension following a sending-off he received Liverpool.

“That incident is behind us,” the manager said. “I am confident it will not be repeated because he himself acknowledged the error. We spoke about it in the dressing room. I am positive it is over and will not be repeated.”

He also understands the significant strain on his side, currently 18th before the weekend fixtures. “We cannot avoid it,” he said. “It's the situation. We must confront it. We are fighting for survival. We can't hide it.”

6. Arteta Impressed by Striker Deputy Merino

Mikel Merino could continue as Arsenal’s central striker even when the club's usual frontmen return from injury. The midfielder has been deployed as an emergency number nine because of fitness issues for Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

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