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A Europa League trophy after a long silverware drought. Numerous internationals in the squad, including a World Cup winner as our captain. Young players with a point to prove and older players who know the drill.

So where is the confidence, composure and courage - especially in front of goal?

Defeat by Aston Villa was only our second loss in the league so far this season, but both of those have come at home.

If Thomas Frank wants to make the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium a fortress, he and his players have work to do.

A fortress is synonymous with being impenetrable and, in fairness, our defensive play is much more organised and robust under Frank - as evidenced by the two shots Villa were restricted to, both from outside the box.

Despite those shots resulting in goals, in their separate post-match interviews, Frank and Micky van de Ven insisted that the defence is doing its job. Instead, questions are being asked of the players in front of them.

The lack of a competent and clinical striker was painfully clear against Villa. What could previously be dismissed - if you covered your ears - as a faint alarm bell in the distance, muffled somewhat by the signing of Randal Kolo Muani, has now become a deafening klaxon.

However, we still have an abundance of attacking players in our squad who are capable of scoring goals - and we need them to feel confident in their ability to do so.

In particular, Xavi Simons has the look of a player who is desperate to score the perfect goal and is hesitating when the opportunity to do anything less than ideal presents itself.

Chances are being created but, as the Spurs fans trudged home in the rain, we were left wondering who is going to take them.

Ben Davies says he has Gareth Bale's Wales cap record in his sights after chalking up a century of appearances for his country during the recent international break.

The 32-year-old defender became the fourth male player - after Bale, Wayne Hennessey and Chris Gunter - to reach the 100-cap mark for Wales when captaining his side in their 4-2 World Cup qualifying loss to Belgium on 13 October.

But he now hopes to surpass the men's record set by former Tottenham Hotspur team-mate Bale - who collected 111 caps before retiring after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

"It's definitely a target that's in sight," Davies told the Feast of Football podcast.

Neath-born Davies admitted he always had targets in a Wales jersey.

"The first one was to get a cap, then you start to look up and see what's in front of you," he said.

"I got around the 15 to 20 mark where I felt a bit more established, then I had the 50 one in my sights for a while.

"Your targets keep moving on. All the time, you have that 100 one in line and I guess the next step is to try and get to 112."

However, the Premier League veteran, who made his Wales debut in 2012, added:

"As far as I'm concerned, it's not about those personal milestones, I still just want Wales to do well more than anything and if I can contribute to that then all the better."

Davies has been a pivotal figure for Wales under Craig Bellamy and is the only player to feature in all 14 of the current national head coach's matches.

And the left-back feels Wales are blessed to have his former international team-mate in charge.

"The biggest thing is the standards he sets. I remember as a player, when you talk about intimidating figures in the dressing room, he was definitely one," Davies said of Bellamy.

"You'd expect him to be on your case, you'd have to perform in training, you'd have to be on time, because if you weren't, he'd let you know."

Davies considers Bellamy one of the best captains, and now manager, he has played under.

"It was intense and hard, but you knew the levels you had to reach. I expected nothing different as a coach and he's probably surpassed all expectations that I had. He's been brilliant so far.

"We've got a really talented manager and someone who I think within Welsh football we're very lucky to have where he is now because he can go on to do bigger and better things."

Despite his importance on the international stage, Davies is yet to play a single minute of competitive action under Spurs boss Thomas Frank this season.

He was also dealt a blow on the night he earned his 100th Wales cap, forced off the pitch in the second half against Belgium with a hamstring injury.

But the Swansea City academy product - whose contract with the north London side expires next summer - believes he still has a part to play at Spurs.

"It's part and parcel of football," Davies said.

"I've been here 11 years now and this really is the first stint I've had where I haven't played many games. So it's not a bad run at such a top club.

"Things change pretty quickly in the world of football. It's not ideal, it's not where I want to be, every player wants to play games.

"It's where I'm at right now, it doesn't mean it's going to stay that way. As far as I'm concerned, head down, keep working hard and I'm sure I'll get my games in when they come."

This will be the fifth meeting between Monaco and Tottenham in European competition – after failing to win either of the first two (D1 L1), Monaco won home and away against the English side in the 2016-17 group stage of the UEFA Champions League (both 2-1).

Monaco have only lost one of their eight home matches against English sides in the UEFA Champions League, winning five of the other seven (D2). That lone defeat, however, did come against a side from North London (2-0 win for Arsenal in March 2015).

Since winning four consecutive home matches in the 2016-17 edition of the UEFA Champions League (including one over Tottenham), Monaco have only won three of their last 13 home matches in the competition, suffering nine defeats in this period (D1).

Tottenham Hotspur have won one of their last seven away UEFA Champions League matches (D2 L4), though it did come in France in a 2-1 win at Marseille back in November 2022.

Monaco twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Man City on MD2, the first time they’d avoided defeat from behind in a home UEFA Champions League match since September 2016 vs Bayer Leverkusen (L9 in between). It was the first time they’d twice come from behind to avoid defeat since a 2-2 draw with Rangers in November 2000.

Thomas Frank could become the first Tottenham manager to go unbeaten in his first three UEFA Champions League matches (W1 D1 in his first two). Meanwhile, only in 2017-18 have Spurs previously gone unbeaten in their opening three games of a single edition in the competition (W2 D1 under Mauricio Pochettino).

Monaco have conceded 2+ goals in each of their last three UEFA Champions League matches, only once doing so in four in a row in the competition (between November 2017 and October 2018).

Mohammed Kudus completed five dribbles in just 30 minutes on the pitch in Tottenham’s previous UEFA Champions League game (v Bodø/Glimt). This was as many as the rest of his Spurs teammates managed in the game combined (5), as well as the most by a substitute for the club in a Champions League match.

Monaco defender Eric Dier – who played 365 games in all competitions for Spurs between 2014 and 2023 – has scored in two of his last three UEFA Champions League appearances, scoring for Bayern Munich in April and Monaco on MD2. Dier’s one of only two Englishmen to score for two different non-English clubs in the European Cup/Champions League, along with Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid).

Pedro Porro assisted the first of Tottenham’s goals in their 2-2 draw against Bodø/Glimt on MD2, while he has also created the most chances (4) and made the most line-breaking passes (18) of any Spurs player in the UEFA Champions League so far this season.

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Tottenham would have gone second with a win and third with a draw, but instead are now sixth after losing 2-1 at home to Aston Villa, despite taking a fifth-minute lead.

They suffered only their second league defeat since Thomas Frank replaced Ange Postecoglou, whose Europa League triumph was not enough to keep him in a job.

In some regards, the poor result after a good performance on Sunday, was similar to those league matches last season under Postecoglou, who was sacked by Nottingham Forest yesterday after only 39 days in charge of them.

Frank received a setback just before the match as club skipper Romero suffered an injury in the warm-up, with Austria international Danso drafted in for his first league start of the season, while Micky van de Ven was handed the armband.

However, they still managed to take an early lead through Rodrigo Bentancur's half-volley and thought they had gone 2-0 ahead in the sixth minute only for Mohammed Kudus to be judged offside as he had started his run too early before arrowing a low strike into the bottom corner.

After Rogers' equaliser, Tottenham arguably had the better chances. Mathys Tel failed to connect with a close-range volley after referee Simon Hooper allowed play to continue, despite the ball earlier hitting him and Van de Ven wasted another opportunity by heading over.

Villa's winner - only their second shot on target - came against the run of play and Tottenham could still have levelled.

Striker Randal Kolo Muani - on his first Premier League appearance since his season-long loan from Paris St-Germain - and Brennan Johnson failed to convert chances as Emery's men, with Spurs now having just one point from their past three home league games.

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Thomas Frank spoke to Sky Sports after Tottenham's defeat against Aston Villa: "It was exactly the game I expected it to be, against two good teams, very tight. There weren't too many chances. I think overall it could've gone either way. I think 1-1 would've been a fair result. Villa scored two goals from outside the box in moments where you wouldn't expect them to score. Fair play for their moments of quality. We also easily could've won."

On Cristian Romero pulling out in the warm-up: "Minor abductor injury. He felt a little bit the past few days. We expected him to be fine but he wasn't. I don't think it is too big.

"There were two big teams on the pitch. We started very well. Villa produced two goals out of nothing and we had four or five moments where we couldn't produce. If you told me before the game that these players will be shooting from these positions I'd have said 'happy days'."

How can Spurs fix home form: "I think we just win."

Defender Micky van de Ven spoke also spoke to Sky Sports after Sunday's defeat: "A tough game, a tight game. We know they're a really tough team to play against."

On Cristian Romero pulling out in the warm up: "We knew he was a doubt during the week already. But of course it's always bad when he pulls out in the warm-up. But I think Kevin [Danso] came in and did really well.

"I don't think we did enough. If we'd done enough we wouldn't have lost this game. I don't think we gave too much away, they scored two goals from outside the box. But I think we can also create more for ourselves.

"We always give 100% to the fans and the club and everyone."

Emery confirmed that Ollie Watkins "will be ready" despite picking up a knock while with the England national team.

On the excellent performances of Morgan Rogers performances for the Three Lions: "He is getting better. He started [the season] a bit like the team - not performing well and not confident. But in the last matches he has played, he might not be scoring but he is playing better."

The Villa boss suggested the environment with England has helped Rogers improve: "It is helping him with the national team how they were performing collectively and individually. He is responsible and a protagonist like he is in the starting XI [with us]."

He said "every match we are facing is very difficult" when asked about the challenge posed by their hosts, adding: "Tottenham is one of the contender teams to be in the top seven. Last year they didn't achieve it but this year they are playing fantastic. Getting good results, now at the top with 14 points and playing at home they are feeling strong."

He continued: "For us it is a huge challenge."

Emery emphasised the importance of Tottenham qualifying for the Champions League this season and praised Thomas Frank for his start as manager: "He is doing very good work like he did when with Brentford. He deserved to get something more and now he has opportunity and challenge, and Tottenham is now one of best in Premier League. In the stadium with their supporters and with new tactics, they are a very, very strong team."

He gave an update on injuries: "Randal Kolo Muani has trained for two weeks with the team - he looks better and better - and he's in contention for the weekend. Yves Bissouma unfortunately had a situation with the national team and has a ligament issue in his ankle so he'll be out for a few weeks."

On the latest with Dominic Solanke's recovery: "Dom's progressed well post-surgery. The good thing is he is progressing, but he is still training on his own. I don't want to be too negative or get too excited. How long he takes [to return], I don't know."

On potentially having to rotate the squad due to injuries: "We all have an idea in our heads what the strongest team is with everyone available but I have to create the strongest team with what players are available now."

On improving Tottenham's home form: "We would like our home to be a fortress. That is the aim. If we can make it an unbelievably difficult place to come, then the job is half done. This needs cohesion between the team and the fans. Every game of football goes up and down with good and bad spells so we need the fans. When the fans are behind the team and the stadium is rocking, it is an unbelievable place."

On the new structure at Spurs spearheaded by the re-appointment of Fabio Paratici as sporting director: "Positive about the return of Fabio Paratici. Obviously, he worked as a consultant for the club so I've met him a few times over the last few months. I'm looking forward to working together. I'm in no doubt we will all create a good team. I'm used to working with two sporting directors - I did so at Brentford. I think you need two sporting directors now. I think they will complement each other well. It is the perfect match."

On Aston Villa's forward progress as a club: "I'm not surprised because I see a lot of the same things from the last few seasons. They are very good in the build up with fantastic players: Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, Donyell Malen... it is a top team. They are growing. In an unbelievably tight game on Sunday, I hope and believe we can (get the win) in what will be a tough game."