Arsene Wenger admitted Arsenal’s ‘very poor’ away record could cost them a Champions League spot after defeat at Wembley against Tottenham.
Harry Kane’s header early in the second half settled the north London derby in Spurs’ favour and left the Gunners six points adrift of the top four, having played a game more.
Arsenal have picked up just 13 points in 14 games on the road, the same as Bournemouth and less than the likes of Leicester, Watford and Burnley.
And Wenger pointed to the fact they had scored only 15 and conceded 22 in away matches this season.
“It’s very poor,” he told the post-match press conference at Wembley.
“You can say we are not strong enough defending our goal, but if you look at the numbers and compare them to the top six, we do not score enough goals away from home.
“These two weaknesses explains it.
“This was a game we couldn’t afford to lose. That makes it much more difficult now [to qualify for the Champions League] but we have to keep fighting.”
The Frenchman also brushed aside criticism from former Arsenal player Martin Keown who, working as a television pundit, said the Gunners’ lacked the hunger to defend.
Instead, Wenger chose to praise match-winner Kane.
“They were caught by a super striker who is one of the best in the world. He scores against everybody,” Wenger said.