Arsenal star Katie McCabe idolised Chelsea icon but wants her own legendary status

'Katie McCabe only scores bangers' is the catchphrase on social media and she added another scintillating strike to her YouTube highlight reel in midweek against Hungary when she found the top corner from 30-yards for Republic of Ireland.

McCabe, who has been rewarded for her club form with a new Arsenal contract, also made history this summer when she scored Republic of Ireland's first ever Women's World Cup goal - and it was one of the goals of the tournament.

It is a moment the 28-year-old will always treasure and McCabe is also a key player for Arsenal in the Women's Super League, with her versatility an invaluable asset to boss Jonas Eidevall.

However, despite playing for the Gunners, it was a legend from one of Arsenal's London rivals who was an inspiration to McCabe growing up.

"I guess growing up over the years, my brother is a big Chelsea fan, so I looked at Damien Duff when he was playing for Chelsea and of course Ireland," she explains, speaking exclusively to talkSPORT.

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"Going to watch them play at Lansdown Road. I always wanted to be number 11 and wear the Ireland shirt, because you're looking up to your role models.

"He's the manager of my old women's team back in Ireland. He actually played with my older brother just before he retired at Shamrock Rovers as well! I guess I always admired his work-rate and his left foot was genius.

"You look back and you think of Damien Duff on one wing and Arjen Robben on the other for Chelsea back in the day. They were unstoppable. It's very rare you have two left footed wingers starting in the same team.

"I just always wanted to mirror my game off of him. His crossing ability and the goals he scored and his work rate was insane and how he conducted himself on the pitch [was great].

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"He had a fantastic career from a Premier League point of view and he's one of the most famous Irish players in history as well. If I keep going the way I'm going, hopefully I can achieve that status one day! But I'm on my own journey for sure."

Arsenal kick off the new WSL season this Sunday with a home tie against Liverpool and the Gunners will be roared on by over 50,000 fans at the Emirates this weekend.

Head coach Eidevall has been busy in the transfer market this summer, adding the likes of Kyra Cooney-Cross, Amanda Ilestedt and Laia Codina as he attempts to prevent Chelsea from winning a fifth successive WSL title.

But the Gunners' statement signing has been the capture of Alessia Russo on a free transfer following her departure from Manchester United and McCabe is excited by the strength in depth throughout the Arsenal squad.

"Look, Alessia is all about goals, isn't she? She's a fantastic striker [with] her link-up play," she explains.

"She's a danger in the box [and] she showed that against us last season in real pivotal moments.

"To have her now in the team, it just expands the strength in depth of the squad. When you're playing at Arsenal, you need to be at your best day-in, day-out and to get a spot on that pitch in the starting eleven. It just raises everyone's game up a level or two and we have to be at our best now to make sure we're getting in that starting eleven on the weekend.

"It's incredible when you list off the names of the players we have, not just in the front four [but] you could go through our midfield as well and right back to the defence, too! It's just so exciting!

"I really feel we're going in the direction this club should be and that's forward and it's up to us now to make sure we're matching that by putting the performances in week-in, week-out on the pitch and making sure we're competing for trophies, which is what Arsenal Football Club is all about."

However, Arsenal's season hasn't started how they would have wanted, as the Gunners were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris FC on penalties in the first qualifying round.

McCabe insists, though, that Arsenal aren't going to let that Champions League heartbreak affect them, with the Republic of Ireland having her eyes set on winning a domestic treble this season.

When asked about her ambitions for the season, McCabe finished: "Three trophies! To train here and compete against the best players in the world, day-in, day-out, is incredible and it only drives me to be a better player and a better person.

"When you represent Arsenal Football Club, you're representing the pressure of putting on the shirt and competing for trophies. That's something as a team, collectively, we want to do.

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"Of course, it's a long season and there's going to be lots of ups and downs. If last season is anything to go by, I think we've shown how together we are and what we want to achieve."

You can listen to the Women's Football Show every Monday from 6pm-7pm on talkSPORT 2.