Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has admitted that the £16m signing of Calum Chambers represents a "gamble".
The young defender signed for the Gunners from Southampton on Monday, and Wenger praised his incoming right-back, but accepted that the large outlay was a risk.
He told reporters: "He can play at centre-back, right-back and central midfield. 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."
The Gunners have also signed David Ospina, Alexis Sanchez and Mathieu Debuchy this summer.