Former Arsenal forward Gervinho 'is like a non-scoring Cristiano Ronaldo' claims Roma team-mate Francesco Totti

Ivorian winger has impressed since joining from Arsenal over the summer

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Gervinho of Roma (GETTY IMAGES)

What a difference a year makes.

On New Year’s Day 2013 Gervinho came off for bench for Arsenal for the final 16 minutes of their 1-1 draw with Southampton at St Mary's, looking like a player bereft of confidence and generally confused by the game.

But after an impressive start to life in Italy for Roma, who he joined over the summer, the Ivorian has now been praised by the club’s great captain Francesco Totti, albeit in a strange way.

“If Gervinho could finish then he would be like Cristiano Ronaldo and Roma would never have been able to sign him,” the 37-year-old playmaker was quoted as saying.

Gervinho has scored four goals in 13 appearances for the Serie A side this season, and has proved his doubters wrong with rampaging performances down the wing, just like the Real Madrid forward Ronaldo.

The Roma captain Francesco Totti (GETTY IMAGES)

In fact, there has only really been one blip for Gervinho in his time in Italy - this shocker of a miss against Catania last month. It’s didn’t affect him too much, he went on to score the club’s final goal in the 4-0 rout at the Stadio Olimpico.