Kieran Tierney jumps Arsenal captaincy queue after Granit Xhaka moment as Mikel Arteta insists Scot is 'next in line'

A bizarre mix-up in Arsenal's home win over Brentford saw Granit Xhaka seemingly 'refuse' the captain's armband.

And instead it was Scotland and former Celtic star Kieran Tierney that took the role for the final stages of the Gunners' 3-1 win.

Young guns Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka had the Emirates side on their way to victory in the Premier League clash when skipper Alexandre Lacazette was subbed.

Eddie Nketiah grabbed the armband off the Frenchman and first approached fiery Swiss holding midfielder Xhaka - who was infamously deposed from the role by former manager Unai Emery.

Xhaka either didn't notice or pretended not to as he walked right by his team-mate - and that led to Nketiah heading for the number three to cheers from the home fans.

Christian Norgaard would strike a late consolation but after the match Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta insisted Tierney is next in line and that going over to Xhaka was a mistake.

Asked why Xhaka turned down the armband, he said: "Because Kieran (Tierney) was the next in line, that’s why."

Current skipper Lacazette is out of contract in the summer and Arteta's statement means that should he leave, Tierney may end up assuming the armband full-time.