SKIPPER Simon Francis admitted Cherries had not looked “confident enough” as they slumped to a dispiriting 3-0 defeat at Arsenal.

The 32-year-old defender was brought on in place of Tyrone Mings as Cherries trailed 2-0 at the break at the Emirates Stadium.

Francis made his return following a hamstring injury sustained against West Brom on the opening day of the season.

But it was not a happy comeback for Francis, who admitted Cherries had been lacking the traits which helped them finish ninth in the Premier League last season.

Following losses to West Brom, Watford, Manchester City and Arsenal, Cherries remain without a point in the league.

Francis told the Daily Echo: “I can’t think of any other time while we have been in the Premier League when the lads have looked this down.

“It was clear to see we wanted a reaction after the City game because we felt hard done by in that game.

“We thought this would be a good chance for us to come here and get a positive result against an Arsenal team who were also in desperate need of a good result.

“It was almost back to the performances of the first two games really.

“There were too many things that didn’t look like a Bournemouth performance, it didn’t look like a Bournemouth team. Ultimately, we lost the game because of that.”

Francis replaced Mings after first-half goals from Danny Welbeck and Alexandre Lacazette had put the Gunners in the driving seat.

And with England striker Welbeck adding another in the second half, the skipper admitted Cherries had failed to play to their strengths.

“We didn’t look positive enough on the ball,” he added.

“We didn’t look confident enough against an Arsenal team which had been looking a little bit nervy at home beforehand.

“We didn’t have enough going forward with enough passes on and we just didn’t look like ourselves.

“We didn’t use the strengths we had in the team with the formation we played and, ultimately, that was our downfall.”

Also reacting to the setback, defender Nathan Ake admitted Cherries’ regular high energy was lacking in their loss to Arsene Wenger’s men.

He added: “It’s hard to accept why this is happening.

“As a team, I think we aren’t playing with confidence. We seem a bit down.

“After a goal goes in, we seem to lose discipline and our heads. It’s just not fun at the moment.

“I think it was too easy for Arsenal. They went through our midfield and our backline too easily.

“We couldn’t press them, they had time on the ball, we were late everywhere and it’s weird because normally we are a pressing team and full of energy.

“We need to get our energy and our team spirit back.”