Arsenal academy centre-back Daniel Ballard is impressing on his loan spell with Blackpool, and he looks ready for a step up next season.
The story so far
It wouldn’t quite be accurate to claim that Ballard has always been highly-rated in the Arsenal academy. After all, they actually intended to release him at u14 level, before Liam Brady changed his mind. Then they almost released him again two years later, before he impressed in a friendly against Bayern Munich and earned a scholarship deal.
But since then, he’s consistently been viewed as a promising defensive prospect. Arsenal handed him his first professional contract in 2018, and an extension in 2019 after he was so impressive for Freddie Ljungberg’s u23s. Then they sent him on loan to League Two club Swindon Town.
Ballard’s story is full of setbacks, and he had another shortly after the start of that loan. A serious knee injury after just three games effectively ended his season, leaving him needing surgery and a long-term rehabilitation process.
Once again, he bounced back. The following March he returned to the pitch with a commanding u23 display, and he joined the first team for training over the subsequent lockdown period. Even without playing much at all, it was enough to convince Blackpool to help him make the step up from League Two to League One this season.
The Blackpool loan
Despite a minor injury, a red card, and a Covid isolation period earlier in the season, Ballard has consistently contributed positively for Blackpool this campaign. He’s up to 16 appearances for the season, and he recently scored his first goal against senior opposition in Crewe Alexandra.
More importantly, Ballard has helped Blackpool keep four clean sheets in their last six games, only conceding twice in that period. Over the season, they have eight clean sheets in his 15 starts.
Making the starting lineup in the FA Cup as Blackpool knocked out Harrogate Town and Premier League West Brom, Ballard was unfortunate to miss out on the narrow 2-1 defeat to Brighton due to Covid. But when he’s had his chance, he’s usually taken it.
Even more impressively, Ballard has broken into the Northern Ireland senior national team. He made his debut in September, appearing five times over the final three international breaks of 2020. He’s expected to continue to be involved in 2021.
What kind of defender is Ballard?
Ballard is particularly strong in the air and in making interceptions. Among League One centre-backs this season (minimum 10 appearances), he’s 10th for aerials won and 7th for interceptions – per 90 minutes. He’s even higher for clearances in 4th, and he had a bit of a reputation for making clearances off the line as an u23 player.
Goalline clearances are rare in football, and it’s hard to know how much of that is based on ability and how much is just fortuitous circumstances, but Ballard certainly seemed to have a knack for predicting when to drop behind the goalkeeper.
The Northern Ireland international doesn’t tend to dive into tackles, only attempting 16 in his 14 League One appearances, but he has an 88% success rate, winning 14 of those 16. When he spots a chance to step up and win the ball, he’ll do it, but he plays things safe when that option isn’t available.
If we were looking for areas of improvement, Ballard’s passing is solid but nothing too special, and his red card earlier in the season was avoidable. He led with his elbow going into an aerial duel in the middle of the pitch, and was correctly dismissed.
But that was one of only two red cards in his 78 recorded matches from the Arsenal u18s to League One football, and he only has two yellow cards in all competitions this season. It was a mistake to learn from, but not one he makes regularly.
What’s next?
After completing the current campaign as well as he can, Ballard would probably benefit the most from another loan to a better league. The Championship is the obvious next step, and there should be interest in him based on his performances this year.
Mikel Arteta might give him a shot in pre-season, but there’s a lot of competition at the back. Ballard will be one of many loan centre-backs returning to the club, joining Harry Clarke, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Mark McGuinness, William Saliba, and Zech Medley.
Perhaps Ballard could argue that his performances put him ahead of most of the rest, but he’ll have a hard time getting ahead of Mavropanos and Saliba, who will have spent the recent months playing in two of Europe’s top-five leagues.
So it will be difficult to break in immediately, and a loan to the Championship or a top foreign league would be the best way for the defender to make his case and ensure he remains in the national team setup.