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From the world of top-flight developments, a key midfielder was given a lengthy suspension, a manager has pointed to a player's errors to make a point, and the Manchester City manager has demanded defensive betterment following a chaotic win.

1. Mejbri Handed Four-Match Ban and Financial Penalty

The Clarets' player Hannibal Mejbri has been issued a four-game ban and a financial penalty for improper behaviour during a recent fixture versus Leeds United. The Football Association stated Mejbri was referred an independent regulatory commission after allegations where he spat towards visiting fans at the 67th mark during a 2-0 win for Burnley.

A statement explained: “A Regulatory Commission has punished Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri due to misconduct during their top-flight match against Leeds on 18 October. It was alleged that the player behaved against the rules of football or in an improper way by using offensive and/or indecent conduct through spitting at or in the area of Leeds United supporters.”

It added, “Mejbri subsequently accepted the charge, and the Regulatory Commission imposed a four-match suspension and £15,000 after proceedings. The panel's full explanation for the sanction will be published in due course.” The team, now 19th in the standings, travel to 12th-placed Newcastle on Saturday.

2. Maresca Points to Tosin's Errors to Make a Point

The Blues' head coach Enzo Maresca has stated that a lack of seasoned players is no an issue for his team, pointing out that defender Tosin Adarabioyo's years did not prevent him from having poorly during a 3-1 loss to Leeds United.

Maresca, who oversees the most youthful team in the Premier League, does not feel that mentality played a part in their poor result. He made his case by singling out Tosin, the oldest player on the pitch, after he produced a mistake-riddled display in central defence.

“We always talk about experience after we drop points,” Maresca said. “When we defeated Barcelona, we drew against Arsenal, nobody was talking about experienced players. I understand that when we don’t win, we are constantly searching for the reason why, but I think the reason why we lost to Leeds is not because of the experience, it’s because we just weren't at our best.”

Maresca continued, “Who was the oldest one on our team in the match? It was Tosin. Was he good? Therefore, it isn't related to experience. It’s about those 11 players, they were simply not good enough.”

Guardiola Insists Defence 'Must Improve'

Pep Guardiola has insisted his team have taken lessons from a recent thriller at Fulham and the game has now been forgotten. The team survived for a 5-4 victory during a incredible clash on Tuesday, after leading 5-1 with about an hour gone.

Coming after they resisted a fightback and won 3-2 in their previous fixture, prompting further doubts regarding whether City possess resilient enough to sustain a title challenge to leaders Arsenal. “It’s forgotten,” Guardiola commented. “Valuable learnings, I hope. At this level, at all the clubs, one must learn from what happens in the good things and bad things and focus on the next one.”

“Naturally I’m concerned,” he admitted. “We try to analyse the cause, so as not to concede so many goals. With the three goals scored against Leeds, and the five goals against Fulham you can see the two versions, correct? Therefore, always done plenty of good things. But the number of attempts had Leeds ? Three? Scored two. It’s not good. And attempts did Fulham have? Five, six? So the average of chances conceded is too high. We must improve.”

4. Newcastle Focus New Defenders' Deals

Newcastle United's new football chief, Ross Wilson, has placed contract discussions involving important backline players Tino Livramento and Sven Botman the priority on his agenda at St James’ Park. Wilson arrived after leaving Nottingham Forest recently and is pleased to learn midfielder Sandro Tonali is on a contract that runs until 2029 and, potentially, 2030.

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

“The initial three or four days in the job was when I found that Sandro’s deal is significantly better than I was expecting,” said Wilson. “However, it is well known that we would want to renew Tino’s contract and we would want to renew Sven Botman’s as well. These talks are ongoing.”

Head coach Eddie Howe is without Botman for the home game with Burnley on Saturday, and he likely to be out for a further period.

Nuno Says Paquetá Will Start for West Ham

West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo has stated that Lucas Paquetá will return to the starting lineup for the side face Brighton on Sunday, after serving his suspension for the sending-off against Liverpool.

“That incident is behind us,” Nuno said. “I am confident it won't be repeated because he himself acknowledged the error. We discussed it about it internally. I am positive it is over and will not happen again.”

He also understands the significant strain facing his team, who are in the relegation zone ahead of Saturday's matches. “We cannot avoid it,” he admitted. “It's a reality. We must confront it. We're fighting for our top-flight status. We can't shy away from it.”

6. Arteta Pleased with 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. The midfielder has been playing as an emergency No 9 due to fitness issues for Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

Merino found the net for Arsenal’s first goal versus Brentford before assisting Bukayo Saka for their second during a 2-0 victory which preserved {their|