GARY O’Neil explained the absence of Jefferson Lerma and Hamed Traore from the defeat at Arsenal, sharing how both had “felt some tightness” following last weekend’s loss to Manchester City.

Colombian midfielder Lerma has been one of Cherries’ regulars this campaign, having started all 24 Premier League fixtures prior to the 3-2 loss at the Emirates.

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Traore has also been an established name on the teamsheet since his deadline day arrival from Serie A outfit Sassuolo in January, starting all four games he had been available for before missing out on Saturday.

Asked about the pair, O’Neil would not directly state the injury, telling the Daily Echo: “Both of them felt some tightness after the Man City game, into a couple of training sessions, didn't feel quite right, so they were both unavailable, so that made the task a little bit tougher."

Injury for Lerma and Traore meant Cherries were missing eight players for the trip to north London.

Marcus Tavernier, Illia Zabarnyi, Lloyd Kelly, David Brooks, Junior Stanislas and Matias Vina are all currently sidelined with different knocks and issues.

“Of course, we're missing a few," continued O'Neil.

"We need to sort that situation, really.

“We need to get as many players back as we can. It’s tough enough as it is, without having key players missing."