• Wenger warns Manchester City his best players are no longer for sale • Wilshere, Arteta, Diaby and Debuchy in contention for game at Burnley

Arsène Wenger has said that Jack Wilshere is ready to return to the Arsenal squad at Burnley on Saturday after long-term ankle problems, while the manager made it plain that the club were no longer vulnerable to transfer market predators.

Wilshere has emerged as a possible summer target for Manchester City, who want to add youth and British players to their squad – and have a history of raids on Arsenal. Since 2009, they have taken Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Touré, Samir Nasri, Gaël Clichy and Bacary Sagna from the Emirates Stadium.

Wenger, though, dismissed the notion of Wilshere, who is under contract until 2018, treading the same exit route. “You can imagine my answer and you can send it to Sky Sports News,” Wenger said. “We are not in a position any more where we have to sell our best players.”

Wilshere has not played since he damaged ankle ligaments against Manchester United on 22 November and underwent surgery. He briefly returned to the squad at Crystal Palace on 21 February, where he was an unused substitute but he then needed an operation to remove the studs at either end of the pin that had been inserted into his ankle, which were causing discomfort.

Together with two other long-term injury casualties, Mikel Arteta and Abou Diaby, Wilshere played in the club’s under-21 fixture against Stoke City at the Emirates on Tuesday and Wenger indicated that he was in contention for Burnley.

Mathieu Debuchy is also fit after three months out with a shoulder problem while Laurent Koscielny faces a test on the thigh muscle that he hurt against Liverpool last Saturday. Wojciech Szczesny is close to fitness after suffering bruising to his ribs.

“Wilshere, Arteta and Diaby came through the game on Tuesday well,” Wenger said. “They were at a good level physically and they should all be available from now until the end of the season. Debuchy is all right. I can only play three players over 21 [in under-21 games] so he didn’t play against Stoke. But he is fit and ready. He lacks a bit of a competitive edge but overall he has no medical problems.

“Koscielny will have a test to see how far we can go with him. He had a scan yesterday and that looks quite good. Wojciech has a problem but he has a good chance to be available for Saturday. He should be OK for Reading in the FA Cup semi-final next weekend.”