Mick Channon questions reasons behind Calum Chambers's move to Arsenal

By Kristian Johnson, Reporter | 29 July 2014

Mick Channon says that Calum Chambers "would be better off learning his trade at Southampton" than sitting on the bench at Arsenal.

Southampton legend Mick Channon has slammed Calum Chambers for a lack of desire after the young full-back completed a move to Arsenal yesterday.

Chambers made 21 appearances for the Saints in a breakthrough 2013-14 campaign, but after just one season of first-team football, the 19-year-old has left his boyhood club.

Despite joining a side who will compete in next year's Champions League, Channon has said that he believes Chambers would have developed more as a player with regular first-team football at Southampton.

Channon told talkSPORT: "What sort of ambition have these players got if they are going to go to these clubs, sit on their backsides and get splinters in their backside? I can't see the sense of it.

"The culture of football now seems to be getting as much money as you can, no matter whether you play on a Saturday. That is the worry for me.

"Why do Arsenal want him? I just don't understand it. He would be better off learning his trade at Southampton. The lack of players wanting to play every Saturday is the biggest disappointment I have. The players' attitude these days is, 'I will go for the money and sit on my backside and play 25, 30 games a year.'"

Chambers became the fifth player to leave St Mary's this summer, after Luke Shaw left for Manchester United, and Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren joined Liverpool.