Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has explained the reasons behind his decision to sign Saints defender Calum Chambers.

The 19-year-old right back is expected to complete a £16m move to the Emirates Stadium, and the deal could be confirmed as early as today.

Wenger understands that the fee will be seen by many as surprisingly high for a teenager with just 18 Premier League starts to his name, but he says Chambers has enormous potential.

"He can play at centre-back, right-back and central midfield," he said. "I hope he will give us competition for the players in these three positions.

"He hasn't played many games, no, but the English players on the market in England are very expensive and, at the end of the day, I was ready to take a gamble because he is a player for the future."