HARRY Arter insists that Cherries do not expect and need to beat the Premier League's big guns – but says his team must make it count against the top-flight's lesser lights.

Cherries clash with 11th-placed Stoke tomorrow (3pm) as they look to bounce back from defeat to title-chasers Arsenal and pull away from the drop zone.

Only 10 points separate Stoke from the relegation places and the Potters are among a host of clubs yet to reach the 40-point mark – widely viewed as the total required to avoid the drop.

Midfielder Arter, a key cog in the Cherries midfield since he returned from injury at the end of October, is respectful of all opponents but says that fixtures against sides outside the title race carry greater importance.

He told the Daily Echo: "We didn't come into this league expecting and needing to beat teams like Arsenal. We came into the league knowing the games that we feel we have to win.

"I don't want to say that we ever approach a game not wanting to win because that's totally wrong but realistically games like the one last weekend are the sort of games that, if you do get anything, it's a bonus.

"Every week we put pressure on ourselves to win, regardless of whether we are playing Arsenal or Stoke.

"But there is a sense that some of the teams we play against aren't as good as Arsenal and we have to make sure we win and that's what we will be aiming to do."

Despite the 2-0 loss to the Gunners – in which quick-fire efforts from Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave the visitors three points – Cherries' recent run continues to give cause for hope.

The Dorset side have suffered just three defeats in 15 games in all competitions and a 20-point return from the past 13 league fixtures has put Howe's side, at least for now, on course to retain their top-flight status.

Arter added: "If we had showed this form from the start of the season, I'm sure we would be in a better position.

"In terms of recent performances and results, I feel we have a really good opportunity to stay in this league and if we don't, we will only have ourselves to blame.

"Regardless of who we are playing in the next three or four weeks, we want to get points on the board and ensure safety as quickly as possible.

"Our job is to try and make that gap the same or healthier and the only way we are going to do that is by winning games."

Arter has started every single league fixture since his maiden Premier League appearance in the defeat to Southampton at the start of November.

The Republic of Ireland international has helped Cherries to accrue 26 points from a possible 45 and has played a key role in Howe's preferred central midfield three alongside Andrew Surman and Dan Gosling.

A £4,000 bargain buy from non-league Woking in 2010, Arter won the prestigious Daily Echo-Micky Cave supporters’ player-of-the-year trophy last season and was named PFA fans’ player of the year in the Championship.