The rivalry between Manchester United and Arsenal in the early 2000s is arguably the greatest of the Premier League era.

Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger's sides brought the UK to a standstill whenever they met, with the games often defined by the midfield battle between Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira.

But that duel was far from the only one. Another was between the two guys leading the lines and scoring goals for fun.

Ruud van Nistelrooy and Thierry Henry are two of the greatest strikers to have played in English football, but the conflict between them was often dominated by the latter.

Henry won the Premier League Golden Boot four times between 2001/02 and 2005/06, with Van Nistelrooy winning just one in 2002/03.

Even during that season the Dutchman was upstaged by Henry as the Arsenal legend scooped the PFA Player of the Year award and set the division's assist record - his tally of 20 hasn't been matched since.

So it's no wonder Van Nistelrooy was a tad obsessed with Henry, but Paul Scholes has revealed how the ex-PSV man's happiness often hinged on the success of his eternal enemy.

"I played number 10 with Ruud Van Nistelrooy for a season and I loved it," Scholes told United's official podcast.

"He's just a ruthless, ruthless goalscorer. He just lived for scoring goals. Whenever he did score or didn't score, the first thing he would do when we got on the team bus after the game was see if Thierry Henry scored.

"If Thierry Henry had scored he wouldn't talk to anybody for the full trip home because he was so engrossed in being the leading goalscorer, not just at United but in the league, in the world, everywhere."

Henry really was living rent free inside Van Nistelrooy's head, which is testament to just how good the Frenchman was.

The Arsenal legend's regular heroics in front of goal must've meant the Dutchman spent most of his trips home looking devastated - regardless whether United had actually won.