Eddie Howe could barely stop smiling after goals from Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon sealed Newcastle’s place in a second Carabao Cup final in three years.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” Howe said after watching his players eclipse Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in the course of a 2-0 victory on the night and 4-0 triumph on aggregate. “It was a great night for us. Tactically we were good. The players followed their instructions to the letter. It’s definitely up there with our best performances. There is a balance and a sweet spot in our game we need to get right. Tonight it was perfect.

Related: Anthony Gordon stuns Arsenal and sends Newcastle into Carabao Cup final

“We were brave, we were aggressive, we were everything we wanted to be against a very good team. The players have given us everything, mentally and physically.”

Howe’s reward is a Wembley showpiece against either Liverpool or Tottenham. “I’m very proud to lead this team and this club,” said a manager, who confirmed that a knee injury will dictate that Newcastle are without the influential midfielder Joelinton for the next few weeks.

“You saw the best of the city of Newcastle tonight, you saw the support for the players and the love for the players. This group of players have been magnificent. They have gone hard and given everything. I’m very proud to manage them. We have shown we can compete against any team.

“We knew the game’s magnitude and the repercussions, good and bad. But we were emotional in the right way, not irrational or over the top.”

Newcastle have not won a domestic trophy for 70 years – the FA Cup in 1955. “It’s been a long time,” said Howe, who saw his side lose the 2023 Carabao Cup final against Manchester United. “We’d love to win it.”

It is now five years since Arsenal last won a major trophy, the 2020 FA Cup, and Arteta was suitably downcast. “Today is painful,” he said. “But tomorrow is another day. Newcastle were more efficient than us in both boxes. Efficiency is what takes you close to winning trophies and we weren’t efficient.

“Normally we are much more composed but we became unsettled against Newcastle, particularly when the game became chaotic and they went direct. We had so many expectations to turn the tie round but we couldn’t do it. It’s a tough one to take. It’s hard to swallow. It’s going to be painful but we are going to Dubai to recharge now and we have to look forward.”