DEFENSIVE linchpin Nathan Ake is facing a race against time to regain his fitness ahead of Cherries’ Premier League showdown with Arsenal next month.

Record signing Ake sustained an ankle injury during Cherries’ 2-1 defeat by Manchester City at Vitality Stadium on Saturday.

Cherries boss Eddie Howe has tonight confirmed to the Daily Echo that the 22-year-old withdrew from international duty with Holland as a result of his injury.

Ake had been named in Dick Advocaat’s squad for World Cup qualifiers against France in Paris tomorrow and against Bulgaria in Amsterdam on Sunday.

But he will remain in Dorset and receive intensive treatment from the Cherries medical staff ahead of the trip to the Emirates Stadium a week on Saturday.

Skipper Simon Francis is also a doubt having missed Cherries' past two games due to a hamstring injury.