Granit Xhaka refuses to take armband as hint dropped over Arsenal's next captain

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka appeared to refuse the captain’s armband during the Gunners’ 2-1 home victory against Brentford.

Goals from Emile Smith-Rowe and Bukayo Saka wrapped up a vital three points for Mikel Arteta’s side.

The result enabled the north Londoners to move within one point of Manchester United in fourth position with two games still in hand.

However, Xhaka’s apparent refusal to accept the captain’s armband when it was brought to him by Eddie Nketiah, was a slight blemish on an impressive display.

However, Xhaka’s insistence on not taking the armband may well have offered a hint to who the next captain will be, as Nketiah immediately gave the armband to left-back Kieran Tierney.

The incident happened after Alexandre Lacazette was substituted for Nketiah in the 84th minute of the contest.

Nketiah’s first involvement in the game was to run to Xhaka and hand him the armband.

However, the Swiss international seemed to snub the advances of the confused youngster, who then proceeded to instinctively turn to Tierney and hand the arm band.

The Scottish international promptly accepted the armband and adjourned it onto his sleeve before play was restarted.

And it is very possible that the armband could become a permanent fixture on Tierney, as he has previously been tipped to become the next Arsenal captain.

Former defender and member of the infamous Arsenal Invincibles side Martin Keown has previously expressed a desire to see the former Celtic defender handed the armband.

"Now Arteta has acted, he's got the chance to select his own skipper," Keown wrote in his column after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was stripped off the captaincy.

"Under his management, I believe Kieran Tierney has been the standout