A 20-year-old Northern Irish Centre Back who’s playing his trade for Swindon Town on loan from Arsenal. That’s what Daniel Ballard’s basic introduction is. Not too exciting, is it? Well you don’t have to be exciting as a defender, you have to solid. And that’s what he is, He’s more Kieran Tierney than David Luiz.
The young defender was born on 22 September, 1999 in Stevenage, England. His first encounter with Arsenal wasn’t the most pleasent one as he was released as school boy by the club, And after a failed attempt at Southampton he looked set for his hometown club Stevenage. But this is when it turned around for the youngster after being given a chance to impress for Arsenal in an U18 match against Bayern Munich and he did enough to earn a contract. And it’s not too difficult to imagine how he fared for the club considering he’s been a regular at the U23 level for Arsenal.
He idolizes the likes of Jonny Evans, again not too exciting, but Arsenal would do great with a young Jonny Evans. A fan favourite already in the youth ranks, the youngster is regarded as the “warrior of the defence”. And the claim is vindicated by the fact that he has already received his senior call up for the Northern Ireland side as Michael O’Neil sees him as an able replacement for the likes of Gareth McAuley and Aaron Hughes.
From an Arsenal reject to an exciting prospect at the Emirates. Ballard’s journey might have just started but it already shows signs of his long association with Arsenal. And he has already got everyone excited, as the admirers of the club are keeping their fingers crossed for the youngster.
