SkyBet were forced to pay out £8MILLION after Arsenal’s win against Crystal Palace

Arsenal's thrashing of Crystal Palace forced bookmakers SkyBet to pay out a whopping £8m to punters after people took advantage of one of its offers.

The Gunners battered Palace 5-1 at Selhurst Park to narrow their gap to current Premier League table toppers Liverpool to three points, prior to Arne Slot's side playing one of their two games in hand when they face Tottenham Hotspur on the road.

Gabriel Jesus scored twice in the opening 15 minutes, while Ismaila Sarr had levelled for Palace in between the Brazilian's strikes.

Arsenal added their third before half-time through Kai Havertz, before Gabriel Martinelli netted on the hour mark and Declan Rice scored a fifth as full-time approached and complete the emphatic win.

The victory capped off a trio of results which punters needed to go their way yesterday as part of SkyBet's Price Boost bet - and in the process ensured the bookmakers had to cough up an eye-watering £8m, according to the Daily Mail.

The accumulator also had to include victories for Newcastle and Leeds, who faced Ipswich Town and Oxford United in the Premier League and Championship respectively.

The odds for all three teams to emerge triumphant had stood at 2/1, but SkyBet then opted to enhance them to 3/1, therefore increasing the winnings of those who took up the offer.

Arsenal beat Crystal Palace 5-1. (Image: Getty)

Earlier in the day, the Magpies had a similarly convincing win as they thrashed Ipswich 4-0 at Portman Road.

Alexander Isak bagged a hat-trick while Jacob Murphy was also on the scoresheet for Eddie Howe's side as they took the lead inside the first minute through the striker, who ensured he would take home the match ball by completing his trio of goals inside 54 minutes against the Tractor Boys.

And Daniel Farke's Leeds beat Oxford by the same scoreline at Elland Road to keep pace at the top of the Championship.

Dan James put the Yorkshire side ahead inside nine minutes, before Jayden Bogle doubled their advantage before the hour mark.

Aaronson grabbed the third before Manor Solomon completed the scoring with fewer than 20 minutes remaining.

Following the two 3pm kick-offs, punters needed the Arsenal result to go their way, which of course it duly did and meant SkyBet have given many a welcome present just before Christmas.