ARSENE Wenger astonishingly leapt to the defence of Mathieu Flamini following his X-rated lunge on Dan Gosling during Arsenal’s 2-0 win against Cherries on Sunday.

Flamini caught Gosling with a two-footed tackle in the early stages at Vitality Stadium and before the Gunners had netted twice in the space of 90 seconds.

Cherries boss Eddie Howe was convinced the French midfielder should have been sent off and said he had been “surprised” when referee Kevin Friend only booked him.

However, much to the disbelief of the gathered media, Wenger – speaking at his post-match press conference – said he felt Arsenal should have been awarded a free kick.

Fielding a question put to him by the Daily Echo, Cherries boss Howe said: “I felt it should have been a red card.

“I had a very good view and thought it was two footed. That type of tackle in the game has been outlawed. You can’t do it and, for me, it was a pretty simple decision.

“It should have been a straight red card and it would have had a huge bearing on the game. I was surprised when the referee only produced a yellow.”

Put to Wenger that Howe had felt Flamini should have seen red, he replied: “I didn’t see it like that. I thought it should have been a free kick to us because Flamini was first on the ball.

“I didn’t see how high his feet were but he was first on the ball. I don’t even think he needed to tackle.”

Asked to clarify whether he thought it should have been a free kick to the Gunners due to the manner in which Gosling had gone in on Flamini, Wenger replied: “Yes.

“It was maybe both because Flamini had high feet but I have to look at it again, I don’t know. I still feel that the fact he was first on the ball and went for the ball and didn’t go for the player, it would have been harsh.”