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Arsene Wenger admitted Arsenal do not have the right balance after seeing them slip to a fifth successive Premier League away defeat at Newcastle.
The Gunners led at St James’ Park through Alexandre Lacazette’s 14th-minute strike, but a side featuring six changes from the one which drew in Moscow on Thursday evening to secure a Europa League semi-final berth eventually succumbed 2-1 to goals from Ayoze Perez and Matt Ritchie.
Disappointed manager Wenger said: “I think it’s very difficult to combine the Europa League on Thursday night and then playing Sunday morning. You play in Moscow, you come home, you play again away from home.
“This game is a bit special. On top of that, I must say the attitude of our team was spot on from the start.
“But it didn’t work and I have to be realistic enough to say that maybe our balance offensively and defensively doesn’t work.”
Wenger is also concerned that his team has not picked up a single point away from home since the turn of the year.
The Frenchman said: “Of course it’s a concern because traditionally we have a very strong record away from home.
“It has a subconscious weight in our minds. Once you’re in a negative spiral like that, it’s very difficult to get out.”