Newcastle United 2 Arsenal 0 | OneFootball

Murphy and Gordon struck either side of half time at a raucous St. James' Park, making sure of their Wembley spot for what will be the Magpies' second appearance in the final of the competition in three seasons.

It was a tremendous showing over two legs from Eddie Howe's side, who navigated the 180 minutes with no shortage of of style and substance - and they now have the chance to end the club's 56-year wait for a trophy when they meet either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur under the famous arch.

The visitors' 5-1 thrashing of reigning Premier League champions Manchester City at the weekend, coupled with Howe's men's 2-1 defeat at home to Fulham, added a layer of intrigue to a contest the hosts began with a two-goal lead thanks to first leg efforts from Alexander Isak and Gordon at the Emirates Stadium in January.

A minor reshuffle following the loss to the Cottagers saw Kieran Trippier and Sven Botman brought into an unfamiliar back three, with the former and Lewis Hall operating as wing backs. But it was the other backline who were first to be stretched, as it took just four minutes for in-form Swedish frontman Isak to expose the Gunners' high defensive line. Gordon hooked a first-time pass through after some industry from Sandro Tonali in the middle of the park and Isak raised the roof with a thumping finish into the top left-hand corner, though a protracted VAR check ruled it out.

It was a let-off for Arsenal, who had started with some urgency. Martin Ødegaard twice went close in two first half minutes, seeing a low shot blocked by Botman before clipping the post after being played in by Gabriel Martinelli - a huge opening for a team needing to overturn a deficit.

But just moments later, the Magpies raced up the other end and found the net again, and this time it counted. Isak was again at the heart of it, combining brilliantly with Gordon before taking aim and hitting the post with his unfavoured left foot. The rebound spun across the face of goal and required a rapid change of footing from Murphy, who did brilliantly to adjust his stance and turn home to send St. James' wild once more.

Back came the Gunners, with Martin Dúbravka getting down well to repel Leandro Trossard's shot on the turn, but it proved just a fleeting moment of danger in a half in which their toothlessness in front of goal spoiled some slick attacking moves. Gordon curled one wide on the break in stoppage time at the end of a first period which delighted the home faithful.

Mikel Arteta's side looked desperately short on ideas of how to unlock a new-look United rearguard marshalled expertly by Dan Burn, whose calming presence - coupled with the occasional crowd-pleasing sliding challenge - seemed to rub off on the rest of those in black and white. Coolness momentarily evaded Gordon, though, after the England man robbed William Saliba and took aim from distance but the ball sailed past the post with goalkeeper David Raya stranded way off his line.

But seven minutes after the restart, after another defensive lapse from the Gunners, Gordon pounced for a deserved goal. Raya inexplicably played a short pass to Declan Rice, who was tackled instantly by Fabian Schär in front of goal. Gordon picked up the loose ball and rolled home to make it two on the night and four on aggregate - a lead Newcastle were in no mood to squander.

Magpies old boy Mikel Merino was introduced by Arteta along with Raheem Sterling as the visitors sought a difference-maker in the final third, but despite seeing plenty of the ball they couldn't muster a real opening of note, save from a bouncing Ethan Nwaneri shot which was comfortably held by Dúbravka.

This was about as efficient and disciplined a display as Howe could have hoped for from his charges, who have earned the chance to win what would be a first trophy since their Inter-Cities Fairs Cup win in 1969 - and a first domestic trophy since their FA Cup triumph in 1955.