That’s the verdict of former Gunners midfielder Stewart Robson, who has hailed the French World Cup winner.
Emery has already seen the squad he inherited from Arsene Wenger freshened up with the arrivals of Bernd Leno, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi.
But Arsenal remain in the market for new signings as they seek to get back into the Champions League qualification spots next season.
Nzonzi, who played under Emery at Sevilla, has been touted as a target as Arsenal look to continue their midfield overhaul.
And Robson has backed his old side to snap up the 29-year-old, who he sees an upgrade on Xhaka.
“Yes, they need a good holding midfield player,” Robson told ESPN FC, when asked about Nzonzi potentially joining Arsenal.
“Unai Emery is building a squad and trying to change the way the squad is being built and the players within it.
“Nzonzi, I think, is a good player. He’s a holding midfield player, he’s good in the air.
“He’s better than the players like Xhaka that Arsenal have got at the moment.
“So I think it would be another hit, Nzonzi to Arsenal.”
Former England striker Dean Ashton has also talked up a potential deal for Nzonzi to join Arsenal.
“He is the exact type of player that Arsenal need,” said Ashton.
“That holding midfield player that not only has got strength and power in his physique, he’s very good defensively in spotting danger, but also he’s great on the ball and he can offer something going forward in terms of threading passes through to the like of [Mesut] Ozil.
“I think it could be a key signing for Arsenal. I think £35m actually is about the right price for Steven Nzonzi.
“I think the mistakes he made at Blackburn and Stoke, I think his consistency since he’s been at Sevilla has, for me, made him into one of the best holding midfielders in the world.”
Arsenal have until August 9 to wrap up their remaining summer transfer business.