Sunday 27 November 2016 17:37, UK
Eddie Howe says Arsenal's 3-1 win against his Bournemouth side was not a fair reflection of the game.
A double from Alexis Sanchez alongside Theo Walcott's header gave Arsenal all three points, after Callum Wilson had equalised during a hard-fought game at the Emirates.
Howe insists his side never turned up to "park the bus" at the Emirates, exemplified by his side's attacking intent, and although they can leave with their heads held high, he felt they deserved more.
Asked if it was a fair scoreline, Howe said; "Not at all from our perspective, I thought we were good today. It was a really tight game. With minutes to go we're thinking we could try and get an equaliser, and I think we deserved one.
"To come here and create as many chances as we did is a really positive thing.
"[To park the bus] It's not really our style, I don't think we do it very well. We are what we are. We're a football team, a high pressing team, we tried to show that today while trying to get a result, and the players did it superbly at times.
"I thought we passed the ball well, created chances. To perform in the manner we did without key players is a huge boost for the squad I think.
"We're disappointed, we came here to win, but we have to leave with our head held high and positive for the games ahead."
Bournemouth had a strong penalty appeal turned down in the second half after a Nacho Monreal handball in the area, and Howe says he felt it was a clear penalty.
"I thought it was a clear handball, his arm was raised and he stopped the ball going through to our wide player, that for me, right in front of me, was very clear."
Bournemouth gifted Sanchez his opening goal early on as Steve Cook's weak backpass found the Chilean in space, but Howe refused to criticise the defender for the mistake, and instead put it down to the Cherries' intention to play out from the back.
"I'm not going to sit here and criticise one of my players, I'll say is that when mistakes like this occur, it's how we play, it's what we do, it's one of our strengths, sometimes individually you won't get it right. We back Cooky, he's been excellent this season."
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