THE NOTEBOOK: Kai Havertz continues his purple patch, Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe could play a crucial role in hectic run-in... and Arsenal fans remember Rocky

Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League with a comfortable 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened Luton Town on Wednesday despite fielding a much-changed side.

Captain Martin Odegaard opened the scoring after 24 minutes and an own goal by Daiki Hashioka after good work by Emile Smith Rowe put the hosts firmly in control on the stroke of halftime.

Mikel Arteta's side moved into first place with 68 points from 30 games although Liverpool, who have 67, can reclaim the lead against Sheffield United on Thursday.

Arteta opted to shuffle his pack with Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka on the bench and Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson and Thomas Partey given starts but his side showed their strength in depth.

Mail Sport's Isaan Khan takes a look at some of the things you may have missed. 

Fringe players could play a crucial role

A congested schedule, which sees Arsenal play twice a week this month, is clearly on Mikel Arteta’s mind.

The Spaniard loathes to make too many tweaks but the Gunners boss made five changes to his line-up to face Luton, including a start for Reiss Nelson.

The England Under 21 winger had not started a Premier League game since July 2020 against Liverpool when he scored late in the first half in a 2-1 victory at The Emirates.

Going forward, the likes of Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe could well play an important role in the hectic run-in.

With two Champions League legs against Bayern Munich coming up, and both Manchester City and Liverpool breathing down the club’s neck in the league, rest and rotation comes into play. No room for hiding, then, for these Gunners’s fringe players.

Fans remember Rocky

A large flag was seen prior to kick-off commemorating Arsenal legend David Rocastle.

The popular midfielder died 23 years ago on Sunday at the age of 33 from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after having only been diagnosed with the illness a month earlier.

Rocky, as he was affectionately known, played 228 games for Arsenal between 1984 and 1992, scoring 28 goals. 

Fittingly, the club hosted his family at the Emirates on Wednesday night. A worthy tribute.

Gunners on the march

This was Arsenal’s 30th league match of the season.

In the previous campaign, gameweek 30 saw the Gunners draw 2-2 against Liverpool — the start of the end for Mikel Arteta’s title hopes.

A 2-0 win over Luton this time instead continued their upward trajectory.  To the title? Maybe, it’s too early to say. 

In a sign that Bukayo Saka — who has often hobbled off the pitch this season - needs a rest, Arteta did not name him in his squad. Maybe having him on the bench would have been just too tempting. 

Havertz enjoys purple patch

Kai Havertz continues winning in a variety of ways. Going into Wednesday’s match, he had scored four goals and notched two assists in five league matches. 

He provided another assist, facing Luton, for captain Martin Odegaard. 

Off the pitch, earlier in the week, the German featured as a Hugo Boss ambassador in an advert alongside Manchester City’s Phil Foden and Real Madrid star Eduardo Camavinga. 

A purple patch indeed.