Sydney FC stronger than last season: Arnold

Sydney FC's new attacking force will have the required firepower to catapult the side to the A-League title, coach Graham Arnold says.

Several pundits have been quick to question where Sydney’s goals will come from with the loss of former marquee srtiker Marc Janko and influential attacker Berni Ibini after their 3-0 grand final defeat to Melbourne Victory last season.

Former Slovakian international Filip Holosko and Serbian Milos Ninkovic have already impressed Arnold after just over a month of pre-season training and he cannot wait to unleash his side on the upcoming A-League season.

“Last year when Marc was here I recruited for what I needed to go with for the players that were left over from the squad that I inherited,” Arnold told 7sport.com.au

“I just felt this year we needed something different after losing Berni Ibini which was unexpected, so we got Filip Holosko which has been outstanding at training.

“I know no one has seen him as yet but a player that plays for seven years at Besiktas for 68 or 69 international caps for Slovakia, has been to the World Cup as well as the Euro’s is going to bring great quality.

“Fortunately he can play anywhere across the front line. He can play the number 9, 10, 7 or 11 so it gives me a lot of good headaches of where to fit everyone in.

“We’ve got Andrew Hoole the player of the year from Newcastle who has come down, Kiki Naumoff who did exceptionally well at the back end of last season, as well as Alex Brosque, Shane Smeltz, and Milos Ninkovic who is an outstanding player - I think he will be one that excites the A-League enormously.”

The Sky Blues are in the midst of a grueling six-week pre-season schedule as they prepare for the upcoming A-League season.

Arnold admits he has a keen eye set on the AFC Asian Champions League as well and believes his side has the strength to compete in both competitions.

“I think we’ve got more depth than what we had last year,” Arnold said.

“We’ve recruited very well, I’m very happy with the squad we’ve got.

“Now I have 10 players who are under the age of 20 to 21.

“It’s no secret that I like to give Australian kids an opportunity and they showed in the Adelaide FFA Cup game what they can do and I think they did very well.

“When you add the experienced players around them I think it creates a very good mix.

“I wouldn’t be standing here if I didn’t want to become premiers, champions, win the ACL and win every trophy.”