HARRY Arter claims the support his Cherries side received during their 2-2 draw at Watford was the best since he arrived at Dean Court six years ago.

The 26-year-old joined Cherries in the immediate wake of their promotion from League Two in 2010 and has been instrumental in the club’s subsequent rise to the Premier League.

Arter has become accustomed to his side receiving strong backing on the road, while Cherries home games are routinely played out to the backdrop of a packed Vitality Stadium.

But the midfielder sensed his team’s fans were in particularly partisan mood as Cherries fought out a fevered contest at Vicarage Road.

Arter told the Daily Echo: “They were unbelievable. It’s probably the best away support I’ve seen since I’ve been at the club.

“It was very, very good. Throughout the game the atmosphere was great from both sets of supporters. It’s a shame we didn’t get the goal to win the game for them but I’m sure they’ll appreciate our effort.”

The hamstring injury Arter sustained in the first half of that match ruled him out of Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualifier with Georgia last night.

But the former Woking player is already looking forward to returning to club action after the international break, when he is determined Cherries will quickly add to the eight points they have accumulated from their opening seven league games.

“The fixtures come thick and fast once we’re back,” said Arter. “Picking up points as quickly as possible is what you want to do.

“We have a fairly decent total. I think we could have had a few more but we’ll take where we are and we can build on it.”