Former Arsenal defender Dan Ballard just fired Sunderland into the Championship play-off final.
It was a triumphant moment for Hale End when the 25-year-old centre-back scored a last-minute header to book Sunderland’s spot at Wembley.
Having left Arsenal’s academy three years ago to join the Black Cats, Ballard’s rise to prominence in the Championship has been impressive, becoming an immovable force in Regis Le Bris’ side.
The Northern Ireland international sealed one of the moments of his career so far, breaking Frank Lampard’s heart at the death to send the Stadium of Light into pandemonium.
Steve Bould was a fan of Dan Ballard at Arsenal
Ballard was a popular figure at Arsenal, as many were hopeful that the central defender would graduate from Hale End.
Though the Stevenage-born star never made a senior appearance for the Gunners, he found a way to progress at senior level after bidding farewell to North London.
During his time at Arsenal, Mikel Arteta had Ballard training with the first team, being a player whose quality was never ignored, as Gunners icon Steve Bould once portrayed.
In 2020, the former Arsenal academy coach was overjoyed to have Ballard back from injury, lauding the experience and leadership skills he brought to his side.
“It’s fabulous for him and us,” Bould said of Ballard’s return, via Arsenal’s official website.
“I thought he led the team great second half. He has that little bit of an older personality that we need. He settled everybody down, and although we went down early in the second half, he did great.”
Bould, who left Arsenal in 2021, saw Ballard’s leadership qualities back then, and time has proven that the Gunners legend was spot on with his assessment.
Arsenal let a good one go in Ballard
Against Coventry City in the play-off semi-final second leg, the former Hale Ender orchestrated things from the back, with the goal well-deserved after a dominating performance.
During the 120-minute battle at the Stadium of Light, Ballard made an eye-watering 23 defensive contributions, as well as winning eight duels and maintaining a pass success rate of 89%, as per Sofascore.
Arteta had the time to assess the ex-Arsenal gem in training, but for some, the recipe to success comes away from the pressures of a Premier League academy.
It’s delightful to see Ballard doing so well away from the Emirates, with the 25-year-old now just one step away from reinstating his Premier League status in the play-off final.
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