Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus's omission from the Brazil national team is 'mystifying', according to South American football expert Tim Vickery.
The striker moved to the Gunners from Manchester City over the summer in the hope of kick-starting his career following a mixed few years at the Etihad Stadium.
Jesus has been outstanding since moving to Arsenal over the summer
However Jesus's spot at this winter's World Cup may not be as certain as many thought
To say that he's done that is an understatement, with Jesus grabbing four goals and three assists in eight appearances for the north London side.
Surprisingly, Jesus has been left out of Brazil coach Tite's squad for the friendly clashes with Ghana and Tunisia, putting his position in their 26-man World Cup squad in doubt.
While Vickery couldn't hide his surprise at the decision, the South American football expert believes that he is still expected to be on the plane to Qatar this winter, unlike his Arsenal teammates Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli.
Speaking on Hawksbee and Jacobs, Vickery explained: "It's bizarre because he's always been in the squad. He was left out of the first squad after the World Cup which was like scapegoating him.
"The coach really regrets sticking with him as a centre-forward during the World Cup because it really didn't work and it's been a trauma for him ever since. It's why he didn't play as a number nine for a long, long time until he was reborn – the second coming of Jesus this season.
"The bizarre thing is that he's been in the Brazil squad all of the time that he was struggling. He played 19 games for them without scoring and was in the squad. Now he's flying and they drop him.
The forward has really been enjoying his football since moving to north London
"I suspect that he'll be alright for the World Cup. I suspect that he'll be in.
"One of the things that the coach wants to look at is that there are a couple of number nine options that he wants to look at.
"There's a local hero, a guy called Pedro who plays for Flamengo, there's Matheus Cunha who was very important when they won the Olympics last year and I suspect that the coach is having a look at those two and Gabriel Jesus will be back.
"It's unbelievable to me that in a World Cup squad of 26 he won't get in, so I think he'll be alright, unless the coach is going on the principle that if your name is Gabriel and you play for Arsenal then you can't come in because he dropped all three of them at the same time!
Vickery believes that Jesus will be a part of Tite's Brazil squad for the World Cup
However defender Gabriel might not be so lucky
"You've got Martinelli, Magalhaes and Jesus. Martinelli will probably get squeezed out because they've got so many options in the wide striker positions.
"Gabriel Magalhaes has mystified me because I was convinced he'd make his Brazil debut in these couple of friendlies but he's brought in another couple of centre-backs whom he wants to have a look at, and Gabriel Jesus really is mystifying, but as I say, I suspect he'll be fine for the World Cup."
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