Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has slammed referee Kevin Friend for not sending off Mathieu Flamini in their 2-0 loss to Arsenal, according to reports from the Daily Mail.

Howe believed that Flamini should have received a straight red card for his two-footed challenge on midfielder Dan Gosling early in the first half, especially with the visitors later scoring through Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to gain all three points.

“I felt it was a red card,” said Howe. “I had a very good view and I felt it was two-footed. That type of tackle has been outlawed, you can't do it.

“For me it was a pretty simple decision. It was a straight red card and it would have had a huge bearing on the game. I was surprised when the ref only produced the yellow.

“Dan could have been seriously injured on another occasion. That's why it should have been a straight red. It didn't look like he was in control.”

However, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger saw nothing malicious about the tackle, and believes that the yellow card was the right call given that the Frenchman was first to the ball.

“I didn't see it like that,” said Wenger. “Honestly I felt, even at the start, it was a free-kick for us. Flamini was first on the ball. I didn't see how high his feet were. He was first on the ball, I don't think he even needed to tackle.

“It was maybe both; a foul from Flamini because he had high feet. I don't know. I still feel the fact he was first on the ball, went for the ball, didn't go for the player, it would have been harsh.”

The result ended the Cherries’ three-game unbeaten streak that sees them only five points above the regulation zone, but Bournemouth now embark on a fairly winnable run of games that can help keep them safe from the drop.

The Gunners meanwhile climbed to third level on points with second place Tottenham Hotspur, five points behind league leaders Leicester City who they face this weekend.

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