Here is my take on people comparing Arrow to MAOS. While I agree that Arrow is a better show than Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., I enjoy watching both shows. However, the two shows should not be compared to one another. Both are based on comics but only Arrow is based on a hero nonetheless a superhero. AOS is about S.H.I.E.L.D. and what they do.
AOS also is responsible for expanding a larger universe than the one that exists in Arrow. Everything that takes place in Arrow is self contained to the show, meaning they have the freedom to do whatever they want.(Nothing that happened in Smallville matters to Arrow and nothing that occurs in Arrow will matter to the up coming Gotham series) AOS doesn't have that freedom because they are playing in the same universe created by the Marvel movies and to be continued in the future Netflix series'. Every major (or not so major) Marvel character may be off limits to AOS because of the posibility that they could be used in a movie or another tv show. If this character is used improperly in the AOS series, it could ruin them for any other projects. Coversely, Arrow doesn't have to worry about any future Flash or Deathstroke movies or how Ra's al Ghul was portayed in the recent Batman films.
Additionally, Arrow tries to ground itself in reality (for the most part), just look at how they dealt with the Royal Flush Gang and Count Vertigo. AOS focuses on the fantastic or outrageous (depending on your perspective) and how the agency or a small group of agents deals with these issues.
If you tune into AOS expecting the heroics that you see in Arrow, then you won't find it there. AOS is more about the espionage and associated technologies of covert/spy agencies in the Marvel Universe. Just my take who knows I may be wrong.