Mikel Arteta has the key advantage in preventing Real Madrid from stealing Kieran Tierney ahead of next season.
According to Spanish outlet El Espanol, Tierney's consistent performances for both club and country this year have led to him being considered as an option for Real Madrid in the summer, as they look to replace Marcelo.
However, Arteta can wave away Los Blancos’ interest in the defender by offering him the club captaincy.
The Arsenal boss has to choose who will lead the team next season and Tierney would certainly be a worthy option, with the Real Madrid interest giving Arteta more of an incentive to award it to him.
Tierney has been more or less faultless since joining Arsenal for £25 million in 2019 and it is hard to look past him when taking into consideration which first-team players have been the most consistent in the squad over the last two years.
Even during some of the club's darkest moments earlier in the season when nine goals were shipped in three games and a pointless early-season tally was recorded, the Scotsman was still one of Arsenal’s best players despite being part of a backline that proved particularly culpable during those defeats.
Previously to this campaign in an injury-ridden couple of seasons, the 24-year-old has managed two goals and four assists in a team that has, at times, been lacking attacking threat.
The Scotsman had 4.7 xA (expected assists) last season and his xA tally was the second-highest in the Gunners' squad.
These performances certainly put him in the conversation to be a future club captain which Arteta seems to agree with.
After the defender’s contract renewal last year, the Spaniard said: "Since his move from Celtic, his work ethic and quality has ensured that he is already one of most exciting players in the Premier League and a hugely important part of our team, both on and off the pitch."
The captaincy will be up for grabs in the summer after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was stripped from the role and sold due to disciplinary issues.
Alexandre Lacazette currently holds the captaincy role but it looks unlikely that he will stay at the club with his contract expiring at the end of the season.
Arsenal can keep Real Madrid away from Tierney by offering him the vacancy which will also help solidify a defence that has been solid under Arteta this season, and a big reason why the Gunners are currently fighting for a Champions League place.
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