Brooklyn Beckham to be released: Why Arsenal could regret letting David Beckham's son depart

Reports suggest the 15-year-old will not be retained by the Gunners beyond this season

Brooklyn Beckham will be released by Arsenal at the end of the season, according to reports.

Despite the attention the eldest son of David Beckham has garnered since it emerged he was playing for Arsenal's youth teams, it seems he hasn't quite made the grade. But could Arsenal live to regret the decision?

Selecting which youth players to retain and which to let go is not an exact science - some develop later in life, others fail to show off their talent whilst some of those kept on never blossom. Football is littered with stories of players overlooked by clubs before going on to enjoy successful careers elsewhere - and none more so than at Arsenal.

Here, we take a look at some of the players (who have seven Ballon d'Or awards between them) who were on the verge of joining the Gunners or were allowed to leave.

And just to add to any concerns Arsenal might have about letting Beckham go, here's a reminder that this is a player that has already scored at Old Trafford...

Which of these players would you have liked to see at the Emirates most? Let us know in the comments below.