After excelling on loan at Blackpool last season as he helped them to earn promotion to the Championship, it seemed clear that the next step for Daniel Ballard was a loan spell in the second tier.
That is what transpired as he linked up with Millwall, and the centre-back managed to make a positive first impression for his temporary club.
Ballard was given his competitive debut for Millwall against Portsmouth last weekend and was widely praised by supporters for his performance as his side prevailed with a 2-1 victory.
The centre-back has developed very well in recent years and has demonstrated strength in adversity in terms of overcoming struggles with injuries.
An impressive reader of the game who is committed in the challenge, Ballard will be hoping that his loan spell at Millwall is as productive as his time with Blackpool.
What happens beyond that remains rather unclear. Ballard turns 22 next month, so he is approaching the stage where a decision regarding his long-term future at Arsenal will have to be made.
Arsenal have been very impressed by Ballard’s progress but whether there will be an opening for him in the first-team squad next year is uncertain.
All he can do for now is look to impress for Millwall and also on the senior stage for Northern Ireland, for whom he has already been capped on eight occasions.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
I would love it if he could make the grade for us… love it
Thanks Kevin, he will have to go to Middlesbrough this season too!
Hope he can continue his White-esque upward trajectory and play alongside him in a couple years or probably generate money close to what White made for Brighton
BUt CaN He PlaY RiGHT BacK anD CDm
He could replace one of our current understudies, assuming Gab and White are first choice?
Hope the loan does him good. It does seem a bit odd though, that having helped get Blackpool promoted into the Championship, he didn’t go back to them this season.
I was thinking the same…
Is Millwall a bigger club or bigger place than Blackpool?
Millwall more likely to finish in top half of championship. Millwall is definitely a different experience for the lad, a London club with a unique atmosphere. should learn alot.
Millwall FC has historically been a bigger club than Blackpool FC for most of their History. Both clubs have played in the English top flight before but Blackpool have done this more recently in the 2010-11 after which they were relegated. In the last 20 years, Millwall has been the more stable club. They’ve been relegated 2 times and promoted 3 times. Largely spending most of their time in the Championship and the rest in League One. In comparison, Blackpool have dipped in and out of divisions from League Two to the Premier League. They’ve been relegated 3 times and… Read more »
We can produce a Ben White of our own if we get our loan deals right
I hope he’ll make the grade for us.
How does this lad compare with Saliba?
Ballard is not very pally with Guendozi
Not as good at growing a beard.
Is he any better than Pablo Mari?
Mari has played in three countries and has years of top level experience. Ballard needs to prove himself at this level
It’s easy to forget that Millwall was where George Graham cut his teeth as a manager before going into manage us.