LONDON -- Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says he is pleased with how defender Calum Chambers has performed at Middlesbrough at the start of his season-long loan spell.
Chambers was sent out on loan after Wenger brought in £35 million signing Shkodran Mustafi and young prospect Rob Holding during the summer to reinforce his centre-back options.
He has started Middlesbrough's last three games, although will have to sit out Saturday's game against Arsenal at the Emirates due to the loan agreement.
"I watched Middlesbrough last weekend and was pleased with how Calum Chambers performed," Wenger said in the prematch programme. "He's getting better in every single game.
"He played right-back in the last 20 minutes against Watford and he looked very good. I'm very happy because he's a player who I feel has a huge potential, but he needed experience and Premier League games."
The 21-year-old Chambers joined Arsenal from Southampton in 2014 but has so far not been able to lock down a regular place in Wenger's squad. However, the Arsenal boss said he is confident the London club will benefit long-term from Chambers' loan move.
"In a very short time at Middlesbrough, he has become a very important player," Wenger said. "They rely on him and trust him a lot, and that's very good news for Calum first, but also for us as well."