Why I Always Wear Long Sleeves, Even in 45°C Heat, Havertz

Arsenal forward Kai Havertz has shared that he wears long sleeves while playing football due to a superstition he developed over time. He feels uneasy in short sleeves.

Havertz made this known on Friday during an "Ask Me Anything" session on Arsenal's official website. He explained why he sticks to long sleeves even in very hot weather.

The German player said this habit has become a part of his game routine. He cannot picture himself playing in short sleeves anymore.

"It’s a superstition," Havertz said. "I think it’s the thing I just feel most comfortable with on the pitch. I don’t know why, but I can’t look down and see my body and see my arm without a shirt.

“It just developed like this, and people were laughing at me when I turned up in the World Cup or in the training camp in Singapore, 45°C with a long sleeve in training or in the game.

“But that’s how I like it, and my head just always tells me to wear long sleeves, so I can’t wear short sleeves anymore."

Havertz has kept this habit since joining Arsenal. Fans have noticed he wears long sleeves when he scores goals for the club.

He also maintained this tradition during Germany’s World Cup run, even when the temperature went over 40°C.

Havertz has started the new season strongly, scoring in three of Arsenal’s first four competitive matches. He netted against Manchester City in the Community Shield and scored again against Coventry City and Chelsea. This puts him level with Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard as the club’s top scorer this season.

The German also scored Arsenal’s first goal in last season’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. Unfortunately, the London team lost that match.

Despite the loss, Havertz called that goal his favorite while wearing an Arsenal shirt. He said it gave him the best feeling he had ever experienced on a football field.

"The emotional feeling after I scored the goal, after the celebration, the goosebumps, it was just incredible," he said. "In that minute, I think that was the best I’ve ever felt in my life on a football pitch, so I think that was my favourite one."