Arzani was the headline inclusion in a radically altered Socceroos squad named on Friday as Australia prepare for World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and China over the next fortnight.
Among the other notable selections are the recalls of experienced fullbacks Fran Karacic and Jason Davidson and maiden call-ups for centre backs Alex Grant and Kai Trewin.
Alessandro Circati, Harry Souttar and Jordy Bos will all miss this month's crunch matches when Australia host Indonesia at Sydney's Allianz Stadium on Thursday, March 20 before travelling away to meet China in Hangzhou on March 25.
Workaholic attacker Mitchell Duke has been dropped from the side while Nestory Irankunda has been overlooked from the squad altogether.
It is the selection of Arzani, however, which will dominate debate after Popovic was highly critical of the 26-year-old in January.
Popovic coached Arzani at Victory last season but put the one-time wonderkid on notice when he said his performances in training in October's international window were not up to scratch.
"He needs to raise his level. We need goals, we need assists. That's what Daniel needs to do," Popovic said earlier this year.
"Doing one good dribble, one good trick or setting up one goal should not be enough to play for the Socceroos. There needs to be more."
Since Popovic's public dressing down, Arzani has started just one of his seven games for Victory and has failed to score or register an assist.
Asked what had altered his thinking since those comments, Popovic told reporters: "I wouldn't say too much has changed.
"I think recently, he (Arzani) has had some good performances. I know his talent.
"I know that he is a type of player that we don't have between the lines, a creative player that has that natural ability to do something special in those areas.
"He gets another chance and I'm sure he didn't expect it, but I think it's just an indication for every player that none of them are out of the picture, and if they perform well there's always another chance."
While Arzani gets another shot, there is no such luck for Duke, the dogged and determined striker who so frequently led the line under Popovic's predecessor Graham Arnold.
Duke, 34, is a popular figure within the dressing room but has struggled for minutes with Machida Zelvia since the start of the Japanese season last month.
His omission is more questionable, given Popovic has opted to call up Portsmouth forward Kusini Yengi and has overlooked the A-League Men's golden boot leader Noah Botic.
Portsmouth boss John Mousinho intimated earlier this week he would prefer if Yengi didn't travel, given his side is fighting to stay in the English Championship.
Yengi is just two games back into his return from a three-month lay-off with a knee injury.
"That's a good point and something you have to juggle as a coach," Popovic said, when asked to explain his rationale for omitting Duke and including Yengi.
"I think in terms of the profile of a player we don't have anyone that has a style of play or a profile that Kusini has.
"I was in London to watch him a few weeks ago and I saw the way he was moving and that he has looked after his body really well.
"He played 30 minutes but moved well for his first game since November and he gives us something a little bit different to what the other attackers do."
The Socceroos sit second and occupy an automatic qualification berth in their group of six, but four teams including China and Indonesia are just one point behind them.
SOCCEROOS SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Maty Ryan, Paul Izzo, Tom Glover*
Defenders: Aziz Behich, Cameron Burgess, Jason Davidson, Milos Degenek, Jason Geria, Alex Grant*, Fran Karacic, Lewis Miller, Kye Rowles, Kai Trewin*.
Midfielders: Anthony Caceres, Jackson Irvine, Aiden O'Neill, Ryan Teague*, Nectar Triantis*.
Attackers: Daniel Arzani, Brandon Borrello, Martin Boyle, Craig Goodwin, Adam Taggart, Marco Tilio, Nishan Velupillay, Kusini Yengi.
*denotes debutant
