Graham Arnold says his current Sydney FC team is better than last season’s record breakers

GRAHAM Arnold believes his current squad is better than last season’s record-breakers and the Sydney FC coach has the stats to back up those claims.

Sydney celebrate after David Carney finished off Victory. (Jack Thomas/Getty Images)

GRAHAM Arnold believes his current squad is better than last season’s record-breakers and the Sydney FC coach has the stats to back up those claims.

The Sky Blues beat rivals Melbourne Victory 3-1 at AAMI Park on Friday to extend their lead at the top of the A-League ladder to nine points.

It was Sydney’s sixth straight win over Victory, with Arnold suggesting his team has a psychological advantage over Kevin Muscat’s men.

“Sometimes you think you have (a mental edge) when you read some quotes from their players before we play them. It gives us quite a bit of energy,” Arnold said.

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Sydney FC celebrate after Carney finished off Victory. (Jack Thomas/Getty Images)

“It’s a bit of a fortress for them and it will probably be one of their worst results in a long, long time here at AAMI Park.

“It puts us only one point behind where we were last season and two goals less, so it shows you how things are again, but I do believe we’ve got a greater squad this year than we did last year.”

Sydney fought back from being a goal down to claim the victory, with two goals to Brazilian striker Bobo and a late strike from David Carney sealing all three points. Bobo’s brace broke Marc Janko’s club record of 16 goals in a season.

It’s the Sky Blues’ attacking combination of Bobo, Alex Brosque, Milos Ninkovic and Adrian Mierzejewski that Arnold believes is the most lethal the A-League has ever seen.

“The front four I believe is probably the greatest front line in A-League history,” Arnold said. “We know we can score goals and damage teams with our quality.

“The Big Blue is a big stage and with big crowds, so to win here 3-1 is an outstanding result. It shows wonderful character and attitude. We know you’re always going to get chances against them, they play and open and expansive game, then it’s just a matter of executing when we do. So the focus is on us to be greater than what we have been.”