If you are using Javascript to include your archive links in the main page (or are willing to switch), you might want to try out my new archive script generator, which gives you the choice of newest links first or oldest first; a select (dropdown) menu, list of links, or the four links closest to the current page (newest four for the main page, two newer and two older for an archive page) with a link to show all the archives; your choice of various date formats (including one date or both for weekly archives); and optional text or html to add before or after each link.
Special bonus: it's less complicated to use than it is to explain: click a few radio buttons, pick a format from a select list, and then copy and paste, and you've got custom archive links.