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This week's Premier League updates, a significant midfielder has been handed a substantial ban, a head coach has pointed out a player's errors to prove a point, and Pep Guardiola has demanded defensive improvements after an erratic victory.

1. Mejbri Given Four-Match Suspension and Fine

The Clarets' midfielder Hannibal Mejbri has been given a four-game ban and a £15,000 penalty following improper behaviour in October's fixture against Leeds United. The governing body confirmed the player was referred a separate disciplinary panel after an incident of spitting towards away supporters around the 67-minute mark of a 2-0 win for Burnley.

An FA statement read: “A disciplinary panel has punished the Hannibal Mejbri due to misconduct in the Premier League match with Leeds on 18 October. It was alleged that the player behaved in breach of the rules of the game or in an improper way by engaging in offensive and indecent behaviour through spitting towards the direction of Leeds United supporters.”

The statement added, “Mejbri subsequently admitted the allegation, with the panel imposed a four-game ban and £15,000 following proceedings. The Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for the sanction are to be released in due course.” Burnley, currently in 19th place in the Premier League table, visit 12th-place Newcastle this Saturday.

2. Maresca Singles Out Tosin's Errors to Prove a Point

The Blues' manager Enzo Maresca has argued that not having experience is no a problem at club, highlighting how centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo's years did not prevent the 28-year-old from playing a bad game during a 3-1 defeat against Leeds United.

Maresca, who manages the youngest team in the Premier League, does not feel that inexperience played a part in their poor result. He made his case by singling out Tosin, the oldest outfield player in the lineup, after he produced an error-strewn performance at the back.

“We always mention experience when we drop points,” Maresca said. “After we beat Barcelona, the draw against Arsenal, no one was mentioning experienced players. I know that if we don’t win, people are constantly searching for the reason why, but in my view why we didn’t win against Leeds is not because of inexperience, it was because we were not at our best.”

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

3. Guardiola Insists Defence 'Has to Get Better'

The Manchester City manager has stated his team have taken lessons from their midweek scare at Fulham and the game has now been forgotten. City survived to claim a 5-4 win during a remarkable encounter on Tuesday, after leading 5-1 with about an hour gone.

Coming after they resisted a comeback to win 3-2 in the prior game, prompting more questions about whether they are resilient required to sustain a title challenge against pace-setters Arsenal. “That game is forgotten,” Guardiola said. “Valuable learnings, hopefully. In the Premier League, at all the clubs, one must take onboard both good and bad in the good things and bad things and focus on what's next.”

“Of course I am worried,” Guardiola added. “We try to understand the cause, so as not to concede the goals. With the three goals scored against Leeds, and the five against Fulham it shows the two sides, right? So, we have we have done plenty of good things. But how many shots on target had Leeds ? Three? They scored two. It’s not bad. How many attempts did Fulham have? Five, six? So, the average of chances conceded we can see too high. We have to improve.”

Newcastle Prioritise on Defenders' Deals

The Magpies' new sporting director, Ross Wilson, has placed contract negotiations with key backline players Tino Livramento and Sven Botman at the top of his to-do list for the club. He arrived from Nottingham Forest in October and was pleased that midfielder Sandro Tonali has a contract extending to 2029 and, potentially, 2030.

That has left Wilson free to focus on talks with Livramento and Botman's agents. With the former’s current deal ending in 2027 and Botman's a year later, the club's efforts have assumed some importance.

“The initial few days after starting is when I found that Sandro’s contract situation is significantly better than the one I was expecting,” said Wilson. “But it’s well known that we wishes to renew Tino’s contract and also wants to renew Sven Botman’s as well. These talks are underway.”

Manager Eddie Howe will be without Botman for the home game against Burnley on Saturday, with the defender likely to be sidelined for at least a further period.

Nuno Says Paquetá Returns Against Brighton

West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo has confirmed that Lucas Paquetá is back to the starting lineup for they face Brighton this Sunday, having completed a ban following a sending-off he received Liverpool.

“It is in the past,” the manager remarked. “I am positive it will not happen again as he personally acknowledged the error. We spoke about it internally. I am positive the matter is closed and it will not happen again.”

He also acknowledged the intense pressure facing his team, currently 18th before Saturday's matches. “We cannot ignore it,” he said. “It's a reality. We have to confront it. We're battling for our top-flight status. We cannot hide it.”

Arteta Pleased with Striker Deputy Merino

The Spanish midfielder could continue leading the line for Arsenal centre-forward even when the club's usual frontmen return from injury. Merino has been deployed as a makeshift number nine because of injuries for Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

Merino found the net for the opener versus Brentford before assisting Bukayo Saka for their second in a 2-0 victory that maintained {their|