BOOKIES Ladbrokes have confessed they have "dropped a ricket" - and face losing a five-figure sum if Gareth Bale links up with great mate Theo Walcott at Arsenal.

The betting giants were quickly forced to cut the price on Gareth Bale starting next season as a Gunner after opening the book on the London giants at 20-1.

Ladbrokes were instantly deluged with bets from both Hampshire and London from punters eager to spot a potential bargain.

And there were reports at lunchtime today that Arsene Wenger has dramatically entered the race to sign Bale.

But Arsenal's North London rivals Spurs remain keen on the Welsh international and are dangling the carrot of more regular first team football if he moved to White Hart Lane instead of either the Emirates Stadium or Old Trafford.

As reported in yesterday's Echo, neither Benoit Assou-Ekotto or Young-Pyo Lee have impressed at left-back for Martin Jol's side this season.

And Jol is also desperately short of left-sided midfielders.

Saints, though, would only reluctantly sell if there was a chance that Bale would be loaned back to them for at least the remainder of the season.

Meanwhile, Ladbrokes have admitted their potentially costly error regarding Bale.

Spokesman Robin Hutchinson said: "We don't often make a mistake but I think we've made one here.

"Our job is to know more than the punter.

"We weren't aware of his friendship with Theo Walcott and the fact he used to support Arsenal as a kid".

Full story in today's Daily Echo.