Sydney lost their first ACL group match 2-0 against K-League side Suwon Bluewings, sparking criticism at Arnold's choice to leave out star defender Jordy Buijs. 

But Arnold insists he's a tactical gambler, and his side's sparkling away form is a sign that they're a force to be reckoned with in Shanghai. 

"We don't think negatively," Arnold told AAP. "The plan is to get to the top two in this first round and then move forward. I'm very confident it will happen.

"I believe we will expose their spaces, get our best players on the ball and learn our lessons from the last game.

"Our away record shows we're probably better away from home than at home, even in the A-League.

"So our game plan is to be pro-active, be dominant in possession, press in the right areas."

Shanghai come into the clash off the back of a difficult season last year, with Carlos Tevez departing the side due to a run of poor form.

Nevertheless, Sydney will be up against the likes of Fredy Guarin, Giovanni Moreno and former Newcastle United striker, Obafemi Martins, in front of an expected-strong crowd in China.

"We are ready for that and we have a Plan B and C like we always do," Arnold said.

"Last week the results didn't go (our way) but tactically I changed the system two or three times to try to get the edge.

"I don't always sit on one plan, I always have three plans, sometimes they work, sometimes they don't.

"But I'm not a coach who doesn't gamble, I always gamble. And when you're down 1-0, then you gamble."