At a time when players’ welfare is in the limelight, one could better investigate Norwich’s Angus Gunn.
The goalkeeper has now been forced to take the ball out of his net for an astonishing 17 times in his last three matches.
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The 25-year-old Gunn was among the positions on Boxing Day, when Arsenal made five passes to Norwich – his first appearance since shipping nine to Southampton against Leicester two years earlier.
And there was no escape from the firing line at Selhurst Park as Crystal Palace became the latest team to wield the sword in Dean Smith’s side.
It was three o’clock by the Eagles half-time and Gunn was afraid that another heavy intoxication would be on the way.
At least in the second half they had to suffer more embarrassment, but what is the hope of playing any keeper behind this Norwich defence?
Normally, you’d fear the worst if you were forced to play a game remembering two of your best players, Wilfred Zaha and Connor Gallagher.
But it doesn’t really work when you’re up against the Canaries – especially without Max Aaron and Teemu Pukki due to illness.
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And when one of the most senior Norwich players that was available, you get the gift of a penalty after just seven minutes to take the lead.
Will Hughes wasn’t going fast enough in the field, so why Kenny McLean decided to kick him from behind is anyone’s guess and Odsonne Edouard made no mistake by chance.
It turned out to be attack versus defense as Palace took full control and the only surprise was that they were unable to capitalize on extending their lead.
The second eventually arrived at 38 minutes, another goal that owed as much to Norwich’s disqualification as anything else.
The visitors swung a ball into the area that defender Jakob Sorensen only needed to touch home on the far post, but he missed it completely, breaking Palace.
With gaping holes in his back line, Edouard was able to break into field and square for Jean-Philippe Mateta to clip into the far corner for the first time.
It was 30 seconds of play that summed up Smith’s side, which would surely lead to an early comeback in the second leg of the English game.
Then four minutes later it worsened as Palace added a third, with Jeffrey Schlup cursing home from a tight angle to allow the visitors again to set up an easy path to douard in the field.
The work was done before the break for Palace, and he briefly took his foot off the gas and nearly paid him off when Sam Byram saw a header against the woodwork.
Palace could take it easy in the second half, saving their feet for what was certainly a tough assignment against West Ham on New Year’s Day.
But he still needed a fine double save from the gun to deny him a quarter just before the hour as both Schlup and Matta saw opportunities blocked by the keeper.
Smith would be happy to see just the back of December, a month that saw him score 14 goals in five games and fail to score even once.
Football is all about levels – and Norwich are nowhere near it.
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