Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold hit back at criticism directed at his team's playing style and believes there is a growing trend of cynical play in the league killing creative play.

The Sky Blues were labelled as playing "ugly" football while obtaining results in their impressive start to the A-League season. They've collected 11 points from their first five games to sit at the top of the table but Sydney haven't replicated the free-flowing attacking flair that lit up their finish to last season.

Of their six goals, four have arrived in the final 10 minutes of the respective match but Arnold says he couldn't be happier with this club's start to the season and scoffed at suggestions his team was grinding out results.

Defence has been the priority of his work in the early stages of the campaign and having conceded just two this season is a source of pride. Arnold reiterated previous grievances from other coaches in the A-League over the growing number of cynical fouls breaking down counter-attacks in the league.