SIMON Francis says Cherries' defeat at Arsenal yesterday would have been a “different game” had referee Mike Jones awarded the visitors a second-half penalty.

Eddie Howe’s side were trailing the Gunners 2-1 when Nacho Monreal used a hand to prevent Francis’s pass into the box from reaching Adam Smith.

But neither Jones nor his assistant on that side of the pitch spied the Spaniard’s indiscretion.

It was a hammer blow to Cherries' hopes of scoring a second equaliser – Callum Wilson having levelled from the spot in the first-half – and Alexis Sanchez’s close range strike killed the contest in stoppage time.

Francis told the Daily Echo: “It would have been a different game at 2-1 if the referee had given the second penalty, which we felt was a penalty.

“There might have been an element of the referee not wanting to give a second penalty, certainly.

“It’s difficult for the referee, having seen it back I’m not sure he had a great view of it.

“But I know for a fact the linesman’s got an excellent view, he’s in line with it, he’s standing there. That’s when you need your linesman to help the referee out.

“If he had put his flag up the referee would have given it, it’s as simple as that.

“It’s tough for a referee to give two penalties at the Emirates. But if they are penalties you have to give them, that’s what you expect from a referee.”

“If we’d been at home, with the crowd appealing for it, it might have been a different story. There probably wasn’t that much noise, apart from the players appealing, and he maybe didn’t hear our fans.”

Despite his understandable frustration at the ultimate outcome in north London, Cherries skipper Francis was encouraged by the manner in which his team competed with title contenders Arsenal.

“It is mixed feelings,” said Francis. “The manager alluded to it in the changing room.

“There’s inevitably some feelings of disappointment, but ultimately he’s very proud of the lads. We put in 90 minutes of very hard work.

“We went toe-to-toe with them and matched them for the majority of the game. It was just that cutting edge that nicked it for them.

“They’re an excellent team, fighting for the title, so you’d expect them to have that quality in and around the box.”

Howe opted to deploy Nathan Ake at centre half for a second successive week following the Dutchman’s star turn at Stoke.

And there was a Cherries' Premier League debut at the Emirates for full back Brad Smith.

“That strength in depth is something we might have lacked last season,” added Francis.

“You can’t just win games with a starting 11. It’s all about the squad and all about how you can replace players.

“I think Nathan’s been excellent in the last couple of games, probably our best player.

“And Brad was very good today, up and down. He’s such a fit lad and very quick.”