Layers were toasting the Gunners big time after that unbelievable 2-1 home defeat by newly-promoted Hull City at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday night.

Arsenal were at best 2-5 to continue their home run of 45 matches unbeaten and when they went in front, the Tigers were 50-1 on the excahnges.

At that point Arsene Wenger’s boys were 1-20 and still the firms got out of jail.

Hull’s victory bombed out virtually very accumulator in the country, saving the books tens of millions in payouts.

The Premier elite of Arsenal, Chelsea Man United and Liverpool have only lost 11 times between them against clubs outside the big four since 2003-04. The previous biggest priced winners were Blackburn Rovers (12-1) who won 2-1 at Old Trafford.

Recently, the layers have been taking chances against the big four in opposing them and have been paying the cost.

But not this time and there is every likliehood the big firms will want Hull boss Phil Brown named manager of the year.

Fred Done of Betfred said, “All the other resutls had gone against us including the first goal scorers Fernando Torres and Cristiano Ronaldo for Liverpool and Manchester United.

“Our liabilities on Arsenal were over seven figures and we dodged a bullet that could have caused some serious harm.”

Skybet were not so lucky as they got taken for £148,818.01 for a £10 13-team accumulator on Scottish matches which included a very late winner for Celtic against Aberdeen and a penalty save by Stenhousemuir ‘keeper Kieron Renton that ensure his side won 1-0.

Meanwhile, Spurs boss Juande Ramos is coming under considerable pressure at White Hart Lane. His team have nosdived since winning last season’s Carling Cup and are now rooted at the bottom of the Premiership.

Tottenham are currently 13-8 not to finish in the top 10 with Blue Square and that has to be worth strong consideration.

Something has gone badly wrong there and William Hill make him 6-5 not to be in charge at the Lane on the last day of the season.

Spurs are 16-1 not to win any of their next five Premiership games, starting on Saturday when they entertain Hull. It’s a brave man who would even look at 4-7 Tottenham to win that one after Hull’s show at the Emirates and the fact that City have not lost on the road this season so far. After Hull, Spurs are away to Stoke, home to Bolton away to Arsenal and Liverpool.

Suddenly that 16-1 is looking good value and must be worth a bet.

A failure to communicate

A Portadown customer got something of a shock this week when he went into a Craigavon Ladbrokes shop to collect what he thought as a winning bet.

He placed £500 on Loughgall at 9-5 to beat Banbridge Town in a Co-Op Insurance Cup tie, using the firm’s Weekend Irish Football Coupon on Saturday September 20.

The bet was accepted as per coupon by the shop manager at 11.03. But when he went to collect on Monday morning, he was told the bet was void because the firm had suspended betting on the game the previous Friday night.

The firm e-mailed their shops that evening to suspend betting on the match, but no notice was on display in this Ladbrokes shop or others to inform customers. It has also been claimed that the shop in question did not realise their ‘mistake’ until 10 minutes after the customer had left the shop.

The company do have a rule which absolves them from staff errors but whether this was an error or a failure of duty, is open to debate.

A case for Ibas to rule on.

Belfast’s punters get chance to be a bookie

Being a bookmaker is easy. Have you ever seen a poor bookie?

That’s the common assumption among the general public but those who continue to think so, can have their chance to test it out.

This can be done already via the betting exchanges but not everyone is online at home or has the means to use Betfair or its rivals.

But this is about to change and those who want to lay horses - be a bookmaker - can do so from next Monday by visiting Star Racing in Belfast’s Donegal Place and avail of a rented seat and computer, plus making use of the SIS facilities to be a trader and lay or bet in-running.

Those keen on giving this form of exchange betting a try, should ring 90314445.

The concept is not entirely new and is already in use down south in Shannon for a daily fee of 30-40 euros.

Up to 10 terminals are provided by Shannon Exchange Trading, each equipped with the latest software to speed up betting and operate an internet system which refreshes up to six times faster than home usage.

Crucially, it provides live pictures from the racecourse that come with a minimal time lag. Pictures from ATR and RUK in the home, are marginally behind which leaves punters at a disadvantage.

Meanwhile, Digibet, a European chain, operating mainly in Germany and who sponsor Mancheter City, and the British Masters Golf, are bidding to make their mark in the UK and Ireland by franchising out their business..

The group runs one of Europe's most successful betting shop chains as well as online betting & gaming sites.

Their website offers sports betting, casino and skill games to their European customers and is known for its range of football markets while striving to provide the strongest possible percentages on winning returns.

Possibly a new name on the Northern Ireland scene.