Gabriel Jesus is relishing being back in the Champions League with Arsenal - revealing he used to skip school as a child to watch the competition.
Growing up in Brazil, Jesus used to watch the Champions League on television, but due to the time difference it would always interrupt his school day.
A young Jesus has confessed to missing school at times to watch games and that is where his love for the competition first started.
After six years, Arsenal are back in the Champions League and kick off their campaign on Wednesday at home to PSV Eindhoven in Group B.
“It is different because I remember the times I watch at home, the times I missed school to watch and my Mum got crazy,” said Jesus.
“It starts from there, you know. It was different to hear the music, to see the best clubs. Probably because of that. All the leagues, the best clubs go.
“I think this helps a lot, then it is a different game, a different competition. The clubs who win the league qualify for the Champions League, they have more quality and that’s what makes this special.
“As a kid you do things you don’t control - so kids, don’t do it… go to school! I just go to school and then in half-time, in Brazil it works like this – we do three hours and then we stop to eat.
“In this break, I went home to watch the game. When my Mum got home, I was late, I was supposed to be at home already but now of course she knows.”
Jesus missed the start of the season due to a knee injury and is yet to start a game for Arsenal this term, but he insists he is ready to go now.
“It (my knee) is better now,” he said. “I was unlucky. I had to do it (the surgery). Now I am getting better, now my knee is perfect. Now it is more rhythm.
“I am training and doing my best and then obviously the rhythm will come for sure.”
Jesus joined Arsenal last summer, when Arsenal were not in the Champions League, but he was “100 per cent confident” that the club would return to the competition.
The striker has also revealed how he persuaded Oleksandr Zinchenko, who left Manchester City at the same time, to join him in helping the Gunners return to the big time.
"If I convinced him to come, he has to give me something no?! I’m joking,” he said. “I was in Manchester, at home with my family and I was supposed to come to London the day after and come in by car.
“Edu just text me and said they were going to Zinny’s house, if I want to come to join them to talk with Zin and then I come by plane.
“So I say: ‘OK’. I went there and talked with him. He was surprised. If I helped a little bit he took the decision to come, I am happy because I like him as a player, as a person.
“I treat him as a brother and I am very happy he came. He is playing good, playing every time and more than this is very happy so I’m happy for him.
“I just said: ‘Zina, you have to take a decision like I did and I am happy with this’. He was a little bit: ’I don’t know, I need to talk with my wife first’ - but he took the decision [to come]. I think if you ask him, it was the right decision.”
