🔗 Share this article

From the world of English football news, a significant midfielder has been issued a lengthy suspension, a manager has singled to a player's errors to prove a point, and Pep Guardiola has demanded defensive improvements following a chaotic win.

1. Mejbri Given Four-Match Suspension and Financial Penalty

The Clarets' player Hannibal Mejbri was given a four-game ban and a £15,000 fine following improper behaviour in a recent fixture against Leeds United. The governing body stated Mejbri was referred an independent regulatory commission after an incident where he spat in the direction of away fans at the 67-minute mark of a 2-0 victory for Burnley.

An FA statement said: “An independent disciplinary panel has punished the Hannibal Mejbri due to his actions in the top-flight match with Leeds on 18 October. The charge was that he behaved against the rules of the game and/or in a poor way and/or engaging in abusive and unacceptable conduct by spitting at or in the direction of Leeds United supporters.”

It added, “Mejbri subsequently admitted the allegation, and the Regulatory Commission handing down a four-match ban and a fine following proceedings. The Regulatory Commission’s full explanation for its decisions will be published at a later date.” The team, now in 19th place in the standings, travel to 12th-placed Newcastle on Saturday.

2. Maresca Singles Out Adarabioyo's Errors to Make an Argument

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has argued that not having seasoned players is no a problem at team, pointing out that centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo's years did not stop the 28-year-old from playing poorly in a 3-1 defeat to Leeds United.

The Italian coach, who manages the youngest team in the division, rejected the idea that mentality was a factor in the poor result. He made his argument by criticising Tosin, Chelsea's oldest player on the pitch, after he delivered an error-strewn display in central defence.

“People always talk about experience after we fail to win,” Maresca said. “When we beat Barcelona, we drew with Arsenal, nobody was talking about older players. I understand that if we lose, people are always searching for an explanation, but I think the reason why we lost to Leeds was not down to the experience, it’s because we were not at our best.”

Maresca continued, “Who was the most senior player for us on the pitch? It was Tosin. Did he play any good? Therefore, it isn't related to his age. It’s about those 11 men, they were simply not good enough.”

Guardiola Says Defensive Solidity 'Must Get Better'

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

Coming after they fought off a Leeds fightback and won 3-2 in the prior fixture, it raised further doubts about whether they are resilient enough to sustain a title challenge to leaders Arsenal. “It’s forgotten,” he commented. “Valuable learnings, I hope. In the Premier League, at all the clubs, you have to learn from what happens in the good things and results and focus on the next one.”

“Of course I am worried,” Guardiola added. “We are trying to understand the cause, to not concede so many goals. With the three goals scored against Leeds, and five against Fulham it shows the two sides, right? Therefore, always we have done plenty of good things. Yet the number of attempts had Leeds ? Three? Scored two. It’s not good. And shots on target for Fulham ? Five, six? So our ratio of shots conceded we can see too high. We have to be better.”

4. Newcastle Prioritise on Defenders' Contracts

The Magpies' recently appointed football chief, Ross Wilson, has placed new deal negotiations involving important defenders Tino Livramento and Sven Botman at the top of his agenda for the club. Wilson arrived after leaving Nottingham Forest in October and was pleased that playmaker Sandro Tonali has a deal extending to 2029 with an option until 2030.

That has left Wilson free to focus on negotiations for Livramento and Botman's agents. With the former’s agreement ending in 2027 and the latter’s a year later, Newcastle's talks are being treated with some urgency.

“My first three or four days in the job is when I discovered that Sandro’s contract situation is significantly more secure than I was expecting,” he stated. “But it’s no secret that we wishes to extend Tino’s deal and we would want to renew Sven Botman’s as well. Those discussions are ongoing.”

Manager Eddie Howe is without Botman for the home game against Burnley on Saturday, and he likely to be sidelined for at least another week.

5. Nuno Confirms Paquetá Will Start Against Brighton

West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo has stated that Lucas Paquetá will return to start for they face Brighton this Sunday, after serving a ban following a red card he received Liverpool.

“It is in the past,” Nuno remarked. “I am positive it will not happen again as he personally acknowledged the error. We spoke in the dressing room. I believe the matter is closed and will not be repeated.”

Nuno also understands the intense pressure facing his team, currently in the relegation zone ahead of Saturday's matches. “We can't avoid it,” he said. “It's a reality. We must face it. We're fighting for our top-flight status. We can't shy away from it.”

6. Arteta Pleased with No 9 Deputy Merino

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

Merino found the net for Arsenal’s opener against Brentford and set up Bukayo Saka for their second goal during a 2-0 victory that maintained {their|