Top-Flight Headlines: Hannibal Suspended for Misconduct; Guardiola Insists 'Back Line Must Get Better'

In the latest top-flight updates, a notable player has been given a lengthy suspension, a head coach has pointed out a player's mistakes to make a point, and Pep Guardiola has called for backline betterment following an erratic win.

Mejbri Issued Four-Game Suspension and Financial Penalty

The Clarets' midfielder Hannibal Mejbri has been issued a four-game suspension and a financial fine following misconduct during a recent fixture against Leeds United. The Football Association said the player was referred an independent regulatory commission following an incident of spitting in the direction of away supporters at the 67th point of a 2-0 victory for Burnley.

An FA release explained: “A disciplinary panel has punished Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri due to misconduct during the top-flight match with Leeds on 18 October. It was alleged that he acted in breach of the rules of football and/or in an improper way by using offensive and/or unacceptable conduct by spitting at or in the direction of Leeds United supporters.”

The statement continued, “Mejbri later admitted the charge, with the panel imposed a four-match ban and a fine following a hearing. The panel's full explanation for the sanction will be published at a later date.” Burnley, now in 19th place in the table, travel to 12th-placed Newcastle on Saturday.

Maresca Singles Out Tosin's Mistakes to Prove an Argument

The Blues' manager Enzo Maresca has stated that a lack of experience is no a problem for his team, highlighting that centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo's years did not stop him from having poorly in the defeat against Leeds United.

The Italian coach, who manages the most youthful team in the division, does not feel that inexperience was a factor in the poor result. He presented his argument by singling out Tosin, Chelsea's oldest outfield player on the pitch, after he produced an error-strewn display in central defence.

“People always talk about experience when we fail to win,” Maresca stated. “After we defeated Barcelona, we drew against Arsenal, nobody was mentioning experienced players. I know that if we lose, people are constantly looking for an explanation, but in my view the reason why we didn’t win against Leeds is not because of inexperience, it was because we were not good enough.”

He added, “Who is the oldest one on our team in the match? It was Tosin. Was he any good? Therefore, it’s not about his age. It's that those 11 players, they were not up to standard.”

3. Guardiola Insists Defensive Solidity 'Has to Get Better'

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

This followed they resisted a comeback to win 3-2 in their previous fixture, prompting further doubts regarding whether they are the defensive steel required to sustain a challenge to leaders Arsenal. “It’s forgotten,” Guardiola commented. “Valuable learnings, hopefully. At this level, at all the clubs, you have to learn from both good and bad performances and bad things and focus on what's next.”

“Of course I am worried,” Guardiola added. “We try to understand what happened, to not allow so many goals. After conceding three by Leeds, and the five goals against Fulham you can see our versions, right? Therefore, we have done many good things. Yet how many shots on target had Leeds have? Three? They scored two. It’s not bad. How many shots on target for Fulham ? Five, six? So, our ratio of chances conceded is too high. We must improve.”

Newcastle Prioritise New Defenders' Deals

The Magpies' recently appointed football chief, Ross Wilson, has placed new deal discussions involving key defenders Tino Livramento and Sven Botman the priority on his to-do list at St James’ Park. He joined after leaving Nottingham Forest recently and is reassured to learn midfielder Sandro Tonali has a contract extending until 2029 and, potentially, 2030.

That has left Wilson free to prioritise talks for Livramento and Botman's representatives. Livramento's current deal set to expire in 2027 and the latter’s in 2028, Newcastle's talks are being treated with some urgency.

“The initial three or four days after starting is when I discovered that Sandro’s deal was significantly more secure than I was expecting,” said Wilson. “But it’s well known that we would want to renew Tino’s contract and we wants to extend Sven Botman’s as well. Those discussions are ongoing.”

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

5. Nuno Says Paquetá Returns Against Brighton

The Hammers' head coach Nuno Espírito Santo has confirmed that Lucas Paquetá is back to the starting lineup for the side face Brighton this Sunday, having completed a ban for the red card against Liverpool.

“It is in the past,” Nuno remarked. “I am positive it will not happen again because he personally admitted his mistake. We spoke in the dressing room. I believe it is over and it will not be repeated.”

He also acknowledged the intense pressure facing his team, currently 18th before Saturday's fixtures. “We cannot avoid it,” he said. “It's a reality. We have to face it. We're battling for our top-flight status. We cannot shy away from it.”

6. Arteta Pleased with Striker Stand-in Merino

The Spanish midfielder could continue leading the line for Arsenal centre-forward despite their regular frontmen are fit again. Merino has been playing as a makeshift number nine because of injuries for Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

He scored the opener versus Brentford before assisting Bukayo Saka for the second goal in a 2-0 victory which preserved {their|