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‘Super defender’: Some fans hail Arsenal player’s ‘brilliant’ international display last night

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Arsenal loanee Daniel Ballard scored his first goal for Northern Ireland on Thursday night.

The 21-year-old may not have played a senior game for the Gunners yet, but he’s becoming a regular for his country.

A year since making his NI debut, Ballard – currently on loan at Millwall – has since clocked up nine caps.

Northern Ireland v Romania - UEFA Nations League B
Photo By David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images

And on Thursday, the Arsenal academy graduate got his nation up and running in Lithuania.

Ballard converted at the back post in the 20th minute following Conor Washington’s superb whipped cross.

The Gunners man’s goal separated the two teams at the break ahead of a livelier second half.

Washington, Shayne Lavery and Paddy McNair also got on the scoresheet for the visitors.

Rolandas Baravykas halved the deficit on 54 minutes but it turned out to be a consolation.

As well as scoring, Ballard was solid at the back, part of a three-man defence that dealt with the opposition brilliantly.

Here is what some fans – of Arsenal and Northern Ireland – were saying on Twitter about Ballard: