Premiership: Silence is golden for Wenger

Arsene Wenger believes the echoing of a virtually empty stadium will be sweet music in Arsenal’s quest for a Champions League quarter-final place.

Arsenal face Juventus, who are already out of the competition, knowing a win tomorrow would go a long way to providing their passage.

As long as Bayer Leverkusen do not defeat Group B leaders Deportivo La Coruna on their own turf, Arsenal would be in the last eight of Europe’s elite for a second year running.

In fact, as long as Leverkusen do not win, Arsenal need only match what the Germans do to progress defeat would be enough to reach the quarter-finals if Deportivo triumphed.

And Wenger believes the eerie atmosphere expected at the 69,000-capacity Stadio Delle Alpi could work in his side’s favour.

‘‘It’s quite amazing. For us, it will be a very big match while for Juventus, it will be a non-match because they cannot qualify,’’ said Wenger.

‘‘I expect them to attract only 10,000 people to the game. They have very low attendances in general.

‘‘Even when they played against La Coruna at home, there were only 20,000 there. It is also to our advantage that Juventus cannot qualify any more.

‘‘They might lack that sharp edge which you have when you can qualify.

‘‘But we must still be cautious as they have nothing to lose and can play freely. They might play very well as they could have a few squad players involved who have something to prove.

‘‘We just know that a draw is good enough (as long as Leverkusen do not beat Deportivo) but to get a draw, you must go into the game trying to win it.’’

Wenger yesterday decided not to dispatch Dennis Bergkamp by road for the game in Turin after the French boss had considered the arduous car journey to Italy.

But with Bergkamp needed for Saturday’s noon kick-off FA Cup quarter-final replay with Newcastle, a match for which Thierry Henry is suspended, the boss decided against it.

Bergkamp was sent on ahead in their previous European away match against Leverkusen, although he was an unused substitute.

It was always expected that Bergkamp would not be involved given the length of the trip, the limited recuperation time before the FA Cup tie and the club’s potentially hectic schedule over the coming weeks.

Igor Stepanovs’ thigh strain is likely to rule the Latvian defender out and could mean a return for Tony Adams.

Adams has played just once, suffering a reaction to the broken bone is his foot against Gillingham in the FA Cup, since September.

Another England international, Ray Parlour (ankle), has missed the last three matches after injuring himself in training.