Jamaal Lascelles feels that Newcastle United must get back to the "drawing board" after their woeful defeat at Arsenal.
The Magpies are now without a win in nine games in all competitions and engulfed in a relegation battle in the Premier League.
The skipper made his return to action in the top-flight after Covid but could not halt a rampant Gunners side.
Lascelles said: "They have quality in the team and have some fast players in there. We let it slip.
"We tried to be attacking but we were too open at the back.
"In the first 45 minutes, I thought it was anyone's game.
"When you go and try to win the game against these sorts of teams, that's when they can hurt you."
Newcastle now face Aston Villa on Saturday night in the second city with Bruce under pressure from fans.
Lascelles said: "We had a gameplan and tried to stick to it as well as we could.
"It never helps when you let goals in like that and it's hard to come back from it.
"We need to get back to the drawing board and re-group."
