There have been a number of fine Dutch players to have graced the Premier League down the years, but for Manchester United fans none, perhaps, are more iconic than Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Robin van Persie can certainly be placed in that echelon, however, apart from Dennis Bergkamp, no other Dutchman has, perhaps, had the same impact on one team and the league.

Van Nistelrooy was one of those players that only come about now and again. A player so aware of the space around him, his superb first touch made him a nightmare for defenders, with the striker plundering 150 goals during his time at Manchester United.

Getty 2 Van Nistelrooy isnt fondly remembered in north London

Not many were more prolific than the Dutchman in front of goal during his time in England, allowing him to win every domestic trophy. But there was more to Van Nistelrooy’s game than goals.

As an ardent PSV Eindhoven fan, Arsenal Ladies midfielder Danielle van de Donk knows only too well.

And despite Van Nistelrooy’s villain status in north London, she still idolises her compatriot.

Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT, Van de Donk said: “Ruud Van Nistelrooy is my favourite. He’s just class. He was a striker but could also play number 10 and he just kept working and working and had amazing shot. He just kept practising and his work rate is one of the best features in my eyes.

“I’ve met him a couple of times and he’s an amazing person. We had a talk from him before the World Cup and we could ask questions and he talked about his experiences.

“It’s nice to hear someone else is also nervous before games or taking penalties. I’ve learned a lot from him. He’s always open and is just a nice guy.

“I think I’m quite a different player to him. [I’ve tried to take] his work rate, as he never gave up. His attitude to be the best has stuck in my mind as I want to be the best, I want to be better and I will never give up.”

Getty Images - Getty 2 Van de Donk is one of the most gifted players in the Women’s Super League

Van de Donk’s importance to the Arsenal side was highlighted last year, when she scored thirteen times in all competitions to help Joe Montemurro’s side seal their first WSL title in seven years.

That form meant the midfielder was rewarded with a new long-term contract and she’s not the only Dutch international on the club’s books either, with Arsenal also graced with one of the world’s most feared strikers, Vivianne Miedema.

“In my eyes, she [Miedema] is top class,” Van de Donk says.

“She can be so much better as well. I do think she fits perfectly in this team and everyone knows the ball needs to go to her. We make it happen for her and she finishes it off.”

This campaign, though, is already proving to be much trickier for the reigning champions.

Arsenal’s crown is already under threat, as they sit in third place in the table following back-to-back defeats to their title rivals, leaving them three points behind leaders Manchester City and two away from second place Chelsea, who have been boosted by the arrival of Sam Kerr in January.

Van de Donk, though, is unfazed by the added competition, and feels it can only be viewed as a positive that Arsenal will be made to work harder to retain their title.

“It [the WSL] is definitely closer,” the 28-year-old explained.

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“Teams are playing us differently as they know our strengths a bit more and try to park up a bit more in front of their own box and that makes it harder for us as we keep the ball quite a lot more during a game. That’s a massive difference for us at Arsenal.

“I do definitely think other teams are getting stronger as well and that’s just a nice development in my eyes, as I just want to see top players coming to this league.

“This is one of the best leagues you can be in because as a player, you want to play against the best for your own development and to let them know you’re there, too. It’s a great development and I hope we attract more players.”

There is still plenty of time yet, though, to claw back that deficit and with Arsenal set to face Chelsea later this month in the Continental Tyres Cup, they are in with a chance of pulling off the quadruple, with the Gunners still in the Women’s FA Cup as well as the Champions League, too.

“We want to get every title and we want to win every prize there is, as that’s just how we work at Arsenal and that’s the players we have,” the 28-year-old added.

“We have the mentality that we want to win everything. The league is maybe a bit harder at the moment but we are still in the race for that one, so we will still definitely keep our eyes on it.

“Every other prize, we are definitely going for it. The Champions League is also very hard, we know that, but we’re going to take that game-by-game and see how far we go.”