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KYLE WALKER was Tottenham's unlikely hero as his 30-yard screamer won the North London derby. The young right-back unleashed a blistering 73rd-minute shot to stun Arsenal and earn a deserved victory. Aaron Ramsey had cancelled out Rafael van der Vaart's opener in a thrilling clash. And Walker's goal exposed Arsenal's defensive frailties once again as Harry Redknapp's side stole the bragging rights. The result sees the Gunners slump to 15th in the Premier League table. And their problems at the back that have seen them reach such a low were evident from start to finish. Inside the first seven minutes, Jermain Defoe nodded over a difficult header and Emmanuel Adebayor got in round the back.Wojciech Szczesny then came to the rescue one-on-one with Scott Parker after makeshift centre-back Alex Song surrendered the ball. The visitors weathered the storm and Theo Walcott saw a shot deflected inches wide. But Tottenham were pouncing on every error and Van der Vaart was just off target from a Gareth Bale cross. The Dutchman picked up the game's first booking for clattering into Kieran Gibbs. And he almost broke the deadlock in the 28th minute when his flick from Defoe's cross was saved by Szczesny. Arsenal surged down the other end and Robin van Persie beat Younes Kaboul and got to the byline. He put the ball on a plate for Gervinho but the Ivorian somehow fired wide. Per Mertesacker was carded for tripping Defoe but Van der Vaart's free-kick hit the wall. Walcott curled over from 20 yards as the Gunners continued to enjoy more of the ball. But all their good work was undone when Tottenham took the lead with a controversial goal five minutes before half-time. Defoe and Adebayor were the creators, the latter's ball finding Van der Vaart. He appeared to control the ball with his arm before slotting it past Szczesny. The Holland star also ran into the crowd to celebrate but escaped a second booking. There was still time for Bale to go close with a 30-yard screamer and Aaron Ramsey to see a shot deflect straight through to Brad Friedel. Van der Vaart's goal was Spurs' 10,000th in competitive football and they set about trying to make it 10,001 after the restart. Luka Modric mishit his shot from a short corner before the marauding Bale also drilled narrowly over. At the other end, a mix-up between Van Persie and Ramsey saw a good chance go begging. Ramsey made amends in the 51st minute after Spurs completely switched off. Song to picked up Kaboul's headed clearance, bound down the left and crossed for the Wales captain to turn home. It was all Arsenal. But they still looked vulnerable every time Spurs counter-attacked. Adebayor wasted a glorious one-on-one with Szczesny when he sidefooted Bale's pass too close to the keeper. Van der Vaart, who seemed to be carrying an injury, was withdrawn for Sandro just past the hour mark. He was soon followed by Bacary Sagna after the right-back landed awkwardly on his right ankle and replaced by Carl Jenkinson. Walker's winner came when quick thinking from Sandro saw he burst past four defenders and run onto a Benoit Assou-Ekotto's throw. His cut back to Modric saw the Croatian shoot, only for his shot to be blocked rebounding into Walker's path to smash in. Andrey Arshavin replaced Gervinho as they looked to come back again but Tottenham continued to attack. Bale was rampant against Jenkinson and he burst forward before finding Defoe whose shot was brilliantly saved by Szczesny. Sandro headed the corner onto the roof of the net before Adebayor was replaced by midfielder Jake Livermore. The chances came thick and fast but they were at the opposite end to what Arsenal would have wanted. Tottenham simply would not give up and their incesant workrate had the Gunners pinned back. Defoe tried a cheeky chip from a narrow angle which was only just wide before Modric hit the side-netting. Niko Kranjcar came on for Scott Parker, just as the fourth official announced there would be five minutes of added time.