lfc3, don't you think some of the blame has to go to the selling club as well? They should refuse to sell to their rivals!
I'm pretty sure ManU did that with Heinze a few years back when Liverpool were bidding.
Yes and no, at the end of the day players do not go anywhere they don't want to, a very different part of the process than you see in North America. Pool would love to ditch Big Andy, but he is dictating where he will or won't go. Without being in the room, I bet Wenger was completely backed into a corner, and in the end likely had no choice, 20+ now or risk less in January or nothing next summer.
And Heinze, like Benayoon and Miereles, are different in my mind, although somewhat hypocritical I know. V. Persie arguably the most lethal finisher in the business, and worshipped I am sure by most Arsenal supporters. I would say we are talking about less than a dozen players I would feel as strongly about.