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 win over relegation-threatened Luton Town on Wednesday despite fielding a much-changed squad.

Captain Martin Odegaard opened the scoring in the 24th minute and an own goal from Daiki Hashioka after good work from Emile Smith Rowe put the hosts in control on the stroke of half-time.

Mikel Arteta’s team rose to first place with 68 points from 30 games, although Liverpool, who have 67, can regain the lead against Sheffield United on Thursday.

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

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

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Fringe players could play crucial role

Mikel Arteta clearly has a busy schedule in mind, with Arsenal playing twice a week this month.

The Spaniard is loathe to make too many adjustments, but the Gunners boss made five changes to his lineup to face Luton, including a start for Reiss Nelson.

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

Looking ahead, the likes of Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe could well play a major role in the eventful showdown.

With two Champions League games against Bayern Munich ahead, and both Manchester City and Liverpool breathing down the club’s neck in the league, rest and rotation come into play. So there is no place to hide for these Gunners’ fringe players.

Fans remember Rocky

Before kick-off a large flag was seen commemorating Arsenal legend David Rocastle.

The popular midfielder passed away on Sunday, 23 years ago, at the age of 33 from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, after being diagnosed with the disease just a month earlier.

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

Fittingly, the club welcomed his family to the Emirates on Wednesday night. A worthy tribute.

Gunners on the march

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

In the previous campaign, in week 30, the Gunners drew 2-2 against Liverpool, the beginning of the end of Mikel Arteta’s title hopes.

This time a 2-0 win over Luton continued their upward trajectory. To the title? Maybe it’s too early to tell.

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

Havertz enjoys a purple patch

Kai Havertz continues to win in various ways. Before Wednesday’s game, he had scored four goals and provided two assists in five league games.

He gave another assist to captain Martin Odegaard, against Luton.

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

A violet stain, indeed.